An Electric Popemobile
On December 4, 2024, several executives from the Mercedes-Benz car manufacturer symbolically handed the Pope the keys to his new "Popemobile." The vehicle retains the same pearl white color as the previous one.
But this unique example, based on the new electric G-Class, aims to "contribute to the realization of the encyclical Laudato si'," so assures the German company, which has been equipping the popes for nearly 100 years.
Registered SCV 1 (for Stato della Città del Vaticano) in red letters on a white background, this new Popemobile has the same appearance as the previous one, but with more sophisticated electronics.
The four electric motors were installed with the specific use of this vehicle in mind: for slow journeys and for public events. The battery offers a range of 400 kilometers.
A new feature, compared to previous Popemobiles, is that the Pope's seat and armrests contain an integrated heating system for greater comfort in cold weather. The Plexiglas roof also features a lighting system to make the Pope more visible to the crowd.
The vehicle has been designed to allow the Pontiff to move around without fatigue, with its central seat being able to pivot and adjust in height.
(Sources : cath.ch/IMedia/DICI n°453 – FSSPX.Actualités)
Illustration : © Vatican Media
