Pope Francis switches his Popemobile completely to electricity. Shortly before his 88th birthday, the head of 1.4 billion Catholics at the Vatican received a new rolling vehicle: a custom-made vehicle from Mercedes-Benz based on the electric G-Class.
Francis is one of the first heads of state to so demonstratively say goodbye to the combustion engine.
The Vatican also wants to be the first country in the world to have exclusively electric cars in its fleet by 2030. The Pope also never tires of emphasizing the importance of the environment and warning about climate change. Although the German car industry has major problems with electric cars, another leading company is also doing business with the Papal States: VW delivered forty CO2-neutral vehicles there this year.
Once a week via Sint-Pietersplein
Francis usually drives through St. Peter’s Square once a week in the Popemobile – a word derived from papa (Italian for pope) and car – to show himself to the faithful. The popemobiles are also used when a pope travels abroad. The term was popularized by Polish Pope John Paul II, who died in 2005 and did not let an assassination attempt stop him from making such trips.
The fully electric model is a further development of the electric all-terrain vehicle G580. With the specially manufactured gearbox, it can also travel at walking speed over longer distances. The Pope sits practically in the back of the loading platform: on a raised seat that can be rotated. So he can point and wave in all directions. There is a hardtop for bad weather.
Unlike his predecessors: Francis also in a small car
The base color is papal pearl white, the underside is red. In addition, an entry aid was made for the very elderly Francis, who now handles almost all appointments in a wheelchair due to problems with his knees and hips. Both parties are silent about the costs. It was certainly not cheap: the basic model of the electric all-terrain vehicle is available from around 140,000 euros.
This places Francis in an unusual price range for him: unlike most of his recent predecessors, he does not value luxury limousines. On the contrary: the Argentinian native, for example, drove a 30-year-old second-hand Renault 4 – but at least in pearl white. When he had to go to the hospital again last year, he came with a small Fiat.
First Pope Mercedes in 1930
In contrast, the Pope cars were significantly larger in previous decades. Mercedes-Benz first produced a limousine for the Vatican in 1930. The “Nürburg 460” of the then Pope Pius XI. even had an upholstered throne chair covered in silk brocade. Like other heads of state, his successors were also transported in luxury cars. In the 1980s, John Paul II used a popemobile for the first time. Since then there have been several dozen models from different manufacturers.
SCV1 – or: “If Christ saw this…”
It is not known exactly how many cars the Vatican has in its fleet. With an area of just 0.44 square kilometers, the Papal States are the smallest country in the world – about the size of Chicago’s cemetery. The Vatican also has no public transport, but it does have its own train station, although it is rarely used.
By the way, the license plate of the Pope’s cars is almost always the same: SCV 1. The letters stand for “Status Civitatis Vaticanae” (Vatican State), the “1” for the head of state. Some people in Rome also read the abbreviation differently: “Se Cristo vedesse…”. In German: “If Christ saw this…”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
