Pope Leo hails popemobile ahead of Vatican exhibition

VATICAN CITY-- Pope Leo XIV has praised the popemobile as an “instrument of encounter” ahead of an exhibition at the Vatican Museums tracing nearly a century of papal vehicles and the Holy See’s collaboration with Mercedez-Benz. 

Addressing executives of the German carmaker at the Vatican Wednesday, the pontiff said the vehicles had evolved from a means of transport into a way of bringing popes closer to the faithful during papal visits and celebrations, as stated in a release from the Holy See Press Office. 

The exhibition entitled “A century of the Popemobile”, opens to the public on Oct.29, featuring eight of the historic Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the Vatican Museums’ square garden. The display will also include an 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen and a modern Mercedes-Benz S-Class, according to the museums.

The partnership between the holy father and the German carmaker dates back to 1930, when Pope Pius XI received a Mercedes Nürburg 460, the first vehicle regularly used by a pontiff. Later vehicles were adapted to make popes more visible to the crowds.

Leo also recalled the first fully electric popemobile presented to his predecessor Pope Francis ahead of the 2025 jubilee. He encourages the automotive giant to continue innovation at the service of “human dignity, care for creation and the common good.”

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