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Pope Francis's cars, often called the Popemobile, serve not only as his means of transportation but also reflect, in part, the Pope's philosophy of life and his connection with the community. |
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Immediately after taking office in 2013, Pope Francis used a Mercedes-Benz M-Class , which had previously been used by his predecessor Benedict XVI in 2012. This was one of the first models to serve Pope Francis in official events. |
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That same year, Father Renzo Zocca gifted the Pope a 1984 Renault 4. This classic car, which had been the Italian priest's daily mode of transportation, was then used by Pope Francis for travel within the Vatican. |
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In addition, he often chose to use the Ford Focus model used by the Vatican's guard instead of requesting a separate Popemobile. |
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One interesting detail that has been repeatedly mentioned is Hyundai's April Fool's joke in 2009, when the South Korean automaker announced that the Santa Fe would become the Popemobile. Surprisingly, this actually happened when the Pope used the SUV to travel to St. Peter's Square. |
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During her 2014 visit to South Korea, President Park Geun-hye greeted the Pope in a Kia Soul crossover. Throughout the visit, she also used a special edition Kia Sedona, with modified bodywork to enhance visibility and communication with the congregation. |
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When visiting the Philippines in 2015, the Pope continued to impress by choosing to travel by Jeepney, a popular mode of transportation in the country. In addition, he also used an Isuzu D-Max, a popular pickup truck currently on display at a showroom in the Philippines. |
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In Peru, Pope Francis used a white Jeep Wrangler , complete with Vatican insignia. This is a familiar design on many Popemobile models. |
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During his visit to the United States in September of the same year, he chose a Fiat 500L Lounge Hatchback, a compact car from Italy. After the trip, the car was auctioned off and fetched $28,000 (727.65 million VND). |
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In 2019, during a visit to Romania, the Pope was greeted with a Dacia Duster – an SUV manufactured and assembled by the local car company (part of the Renault group). |
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One of the highlights of Pope Francis's choice of vehicle was his bold move in Indonesia in 2024, when he used the Pindad Maung MV3 Tangguh military SUV. "Maung" in Sunda means "tiger," implying strength and majesty. |
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At Changi Airport in Singapore, he was greeted with a state-of-the-art Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric car, marking the increasing presence of electric vehicles in the papal motorcade. Traditionally, all these vehicles bear the license plate SCV 1, an abbreviation for Status Civitatis Vatican. |
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Not content with just mass-produced cars, Pope Francis was also gifted a bespoke Lamborghini Huracan RWD Coupe in 2018. The car, finished in Bianco Monocerus white with Giallo Tiberino gold accents, was auctioned off for charity, raising 809,375 euros (approximately 23.8 billion VND). |
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In December 2024, Mercedes-Benz introduced an electrified version of the G580 with a unique design specifically for Pope Francis. The car was painted in Classic Pearl White and incorporated many cutting-edge technologies. However, the Pope did not get to use this vehicle before his death in 2025. |
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Throughout each journey, the Popemobile is not simply a means of transport for Pope Francis, but also becomes a symbol of connection, closeness, and the message of simple living that he always conveys. |
Video : Special Huracan: Pope Francis raises funds for charity.
Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/giao-hoang-francis-va-nhung-chiec-oto-dac-biet-tung-dong-hanh-post269007.html
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