Vatican Museums Show Century of Popemobiles
Eight Mercedes-Benz vehicles, including one from 1930, are on display to mark nearly a century of papal travel.
By Jisoo Vega ·
The Vatican Museums opened a preview of an exhibition dedicated to the history of the popemobile on Wednesday.
The collection features eight Mercedes-Benz models that have transported popes since 1930. The exhibit, titled “A Century of the Popemobile,” officially opens to the public on Thursday. This display chronicles the evolution of the vehicle from a private mode of transport to a tool for public engagement.
The timeline of papal automotive history begins with a specific gift. On May 23, 1930, Pope Pius XI received a Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460. Sandro Barbagallo, curator of the Historical Collections Department at the Vatican Museums, described this vehicle as unique. It featured a silk brocade armchair and fine wood and metal finishes. Barbagallo noted that the car was specifically built for papal use, marking a transition from serial production to a singular object. He stated that the design allowed the pope to be seen while maintaining safety and comfort.
Subsequent models addressed the changing needs of papal travel. In 1960, Pope John XXIII was presented with a 300 d Landaulet. This vehicle included removable rear side windows, allowing the pope to reach out to the faithful. A major structural shift occurred in 1980. For St. John Paul II’s visit to Germany, Mercedes-Benz developed the 230 G. This model introduced a tall, transparent dome at the rear. The dome provided safety for the pontiff while ensuring clear visibility for large crowds.
Pope Leo XIV met with senior Mercedes-Benz executives separately to discuss the partnership. The Chicago-born pope acknowledged that automotive advances have mirrored changes in papal travel. He described the popemobile as an instrument of encounter that enables the pontiff to draw closer to the faithful. Leo stated that the work of the automotive company helps facilitate the church's mission of reaching people with a message of faith, hope, and charity.
Leo also referenced the electric popemobile presented to Pope Francis. This vehicle aligned with the Argentine pope’s ecological priorities. The current pope encouraged executives to continue using technological innovation to serve human dignity, care for creation, and the common good.
The exhibition remains in the Vatican Museums as part of the permanent historical collections. The cars on display illustrate the mechanical and design choices made over the last 96 years.
Source: CNN
