What we know about the "Social Pope"
Popemobiles are vehicles specially adapted to transport the pope during visits. They have evolved over the centuries, from thrones and carriages to motorized vehicles. These vehicles have even changed considerably in recent history, both in terms of environmental impact and security.
Popemobiles come in all shapes and forms, from trucks to luxury SUVs and everything in between. In this gallery, you'll get to know more about the vehicles used to transport popes throughout history.
Before the pope rode a motorized vehicle, he was carried around on a portable throne known as sedia gestatoria. Pictured is Pope Paul VI sitting waving from his.
The use of the sedia gestatoria came to an end after the death of Pope John Paul I in 1978.
The first wheeled vehicle used to carry the pope was the papal carriage. One could argue this was the original popemobile.
Pope Paul VI can be seen travelling in Rome in a Mercedes-Benz 300D Landaulet in 1966.
Pope Paul VI's vehicle during his visit to Uganda in 1969 was a customized Lincoln Continental.
In 1970, Pope Paul VI blessed crowds of Sardinians from his Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman.
The Star 660, a custom Polish-built truck, was Pope John Paul II's first popemobile.
The truck was used from 1970 until the early 2000s.
Pope John Paul II greets people at the Vatican City in 1979. The popemobile in question is a Toyota Land Cruiser.
Pope John Paul II greets people at the Vatican City in an open-top Fiat 1107 Nuova Campagnola in 1979.
This was the popemobile Pope John Paul II was in when he was the victim of an assassination attempt in 1981.
Back in 1980, the pope was riding this Peugeot 504.
Following the assassination attempt, John Paul II began to travel in specialized vehicles that allowed him to remain visible but also stay protected behind bulletproof glass. He visited Spain in 1982 and rode in this bulletproof Range Rover.
John Paul II can be seen in a custom-built Leyland popemobile during his visit to the UK in 1982.
Pope John Paul II is greeted by people in Guatemala while riding a Land Rover.
John Paul II can be seen in a Chevrolet popemobile during his visit to Honduras in 1983.
Pope John Paul II can be seen in a Mercedes-Benz G-class during his visit to Luxembourg in 1985.
This luxury SUV (check out those golden alloys!) was a favorite for many years.
A modified GMC truck was used to transport Pope John Paul II around Havana, Cuba, in 1998.
Pope John Paul II greets people in Guatemala in a Ford popemobile.
Pope John Paul II salutes Croatians from his Mercedes-Benz ML 430 popemobile.
The pope might ride very slowly, but under the hood of this popemobile is a 4.3-liter V-8 engine with 272 horsepower.
Pope Francis rode a locally-made jeepney when he visited the Philippines.
Pope Francis rode a muscular all-white Dodge Ram during his visit to Vilnius, Lithuania.
A converted Toyota pickup truck was the popemobile of choice for Pope Francis during his visit to the Central African Republic in 2015.
Pope Francis greets the crowd from a modified Chevrolet Traverse at Las Palmas Air Base during his visit to Lima, Peru, in 2018.
The popemobile during the pope's visit to Romania in 2019 was a Dacia Duster.
The popemobile is now powered by electricity. The Mercedes-Benz G580 EV is one of the most recent models used by the pontiff.
Sources: (Ranker) (Secret Classics)
See also: Get dressed with the pope: a guide to his iconic look
Popemobiles through the years
From trucks to SUVs
LIFESTYLE Papacy
Popemobiles are vehicles specially adapted to transport the pope during visits. They have evolved over the centuries, from thrones and carriages to motorized vehicles. These vehicles have even changed considerably in recent history, both in terms of environmental impact and security.
Popemobiles come in all shapes and forms, from trucks to luxury SUVs and everything in between. In this gallery, you'll get to know more about the vehicles used to transport popes throughout history.