Pope Francis was seen inspecting his latest "Popemobile" at the Vatican Wednesday, the first all-electric version of the famous vehicle.
Built by Mercedes-Benz, which has supplied cars to the Vatican for nearly 10 years, the new Popemobile was unveiled in a ceremony involving the Pope and the company's leadership.
"This is a special honor for our company, and I would like to thank His Holiness for his trust," Ola Källenius, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, said in a press release.
"With this Popemobile, we are also sending out a clear call for electromobility and decarbonization."
Newsweek reached out to the Vatican for comment on the new Popemobile via email Wednesday afternoon.
Arriving in the traditional white papal color, the vehicle is a modified version of the German car manufacturer's G-Class mid-sized luxury SUV, which usually sells for around $150,000.
One of the key differences with this particular model is the elevated seat for the Pope, along with a grab bar so he can stand and be seen by well-wishers as he passes by. According to Mercedes-Benz, the vehicle's development took around a year, including adapting the drive motor for use at lower speeds during events.
Klaus Millerferli, development engineer at Mercedes-Benz AG in Sindelfingen, said in a press release that the collaborative effort involved "great passion, professionalism, and respect for the task".
"The vehicle represents an incredible amount of manual labor and passion – but it's also full of state-of-the-art technology," he said. "The fact that Pope Francis has invited some of us to hand it over personally really tops everything off. It's an experience that you'll tell your grandchildren about."
The new vehicle's green credentials will likely be welcomed by Pope Francis, who has repeatedly spoken on climate change and the need for urgent action to address its causes and effects.
"With the passage of time, I have realized that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point," he wrote in October 2023, calling out citizens of richer and poorer nations for their lack of action.
The Pope was shown the vehicle from his wheelchair on Wednesday and was seen smiling as officials explained its details.
It was not immediately clear when it will make its St. Peter's Square debut, but Mercedes-Benz did say that the delivery came in time for the 2025 Jubilee, an event where millions of visitors are expected in Rome.
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