Pope Francis arrives on his Popemobile car to lead his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.
Credit: Shutterstock, Alessia Pierdomenico
Move over petrol-guzzlers – Pope Francis is taking his mission for a cleaner, greener planet to the streets of Vatican City with the unveiling of his new all-electric Popemobile. Dubbed the ‘Holy Roller,’ the eco-friendly Mercedes-Benz G-Class is the first of its kind and sets the Pope on a divine path to zero carbon emissions.
Pope puts the ‘G’ in G-Class with Popemobile
Presented on December 4 in a grand ceremony at the Vatican, the sleek white electric vehicle is a marvel of modern engineering. Complete with an elevated, rotating heated chair for the Pontiff and rear platforms for his Swiss Guard entourage, the Popemobile is kitted out to cruise at a saintly pace. And of course, it’s adorned with the Pope’s official crests – because even the Holy Father needs a touch of style.
Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group, called it “an honour” to provide the Pope with the historic vehicle.
The first car delivered was for Pope Pius XI in 1930, but for Pope Francis, Mercedes have pulled out all the stops. This is their very first fully electric G-Class- crafted with “hundreds of hours of passion and care,” according to Källenius.
Known for his outspoken stance on environmental protection, Pope Francis has long championed the need for action on climate change. By swapping out petrol for electrons, the Vatican has made a statement as bold as the Pope’s encyclicals on caring for the planet.
When will the Pope take his Popemobile for a spin?
Although an official date hasn’t been set, the electric Popemobile is expected to make its debut during the 2025 Jubilee celebrations, with the Pope using it to greet crowds of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square.
Until then, fans of the Pontiff can only imagine him ‘floating’ across the cobblestones in that sweet sweet holy chariot of German engineering.
A cleaner ride, a cleaner conscience – Pope Francis’ new wheels truly are a blessing on four tyres.
Read more news in English from around Europe.
Find more news in English from around Spain.
