German automaker Mercedes-Benz has unveiled an all-electric popemobile for Pope Francis, aligning with the pontiff’s long-standing advocacy for environmental stewardship. The custom-built vehicle was presented on Wednesday at the Vatican by Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius and a team of engineers who worked on the project.
A Sustainable Ride for the Pontiff
The new popemobile, a modified Mercedes G-Class, is pearl white and features an elevated seat under a protective glass canopy, enabling Pope Francis to greet crowds during public appearances. It is powered by an electric motor specially designed for the low speeds typical of papal processions, Mercedes-Benz said in a statement.
The delivery marks a continuation of the automaker’s decades-long partnership with the Vatican, having supplied popemobiles for 45 years.
“Producing cars for the papacy has always been a special honor for our company,” said Källenius during the handover ceremony.
Environmental Advocacy
The introduction of the electric popemobile reflects Pope Francis’s commitment to environmental causes, a central theme of his papacy since 2013. In his landmark 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, Francis called for urgent global action to combat climate change, emphasizing the need to protect “our common home.”
In 2023, the pope reiterated his concerns, criticizing the sluggish pace of international climate action and becoming the first pontiff to attend the United Nations climate talks.
The Vatican has previously embraced electric vehicles, with French automaker Renault presenting an electric people carrier to Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.
A Symbol of Change
The electric popemobile symbolizes the Vatican’s broader shift toward sustainability under Pope Francis. As the Catholic Church amplifies its voice in the global climate conversation, the new vehicle serves as a mobile testament to the pope’s message of environmental responsibility.
