The latest version of the Popemobile is a Toyota Mirai (meaning 'The Future') which he first had the use of on a visit to Japan in November 2019.

Toyota customised two of the automobiles for Pope Francis' visit, and one of these is now part of the Vatican carpool.

Francis has a deep interest in global environmental matters, which he shared in his 2015 encyclical 'Laudato si', or 'Praise Be to You'. In this document, the Pope highlighted the issue of human-driven climate change.

"This is his appeal to safeguard the earth and all that surrounds us, changing our lifestyle to preserve our 'common home'. The Toyota Mirai is well suited to his vision," Toyota said about the new Popemobile.

The standard production vehicle has been modified to suit the needs of the Pope.

The rear section of the papal Marai has an elevated platform with a seat and safety railings. This allows Pope Francis to safely stand and wave to crowds of followers as he passes by.

The Mirai is powered with electricity generated by a non-polluting hydrogen fuel cell and emits only water vapour.

The standard vehicle has a top speed of 111 mph (178 kph), and a range of 312 miles (502 kms) before needing a refuel, a task taking just 5 minutes.

With a price tag of USD$60,000, sales have been slow and hampered by the lack of hydrogen refuelling stations.

In a departure from previous Popemobiles, the new modified Toyoat Mirai has no bulletproof glass protecting the Pope from would-be assailants.

In 2014, not long after his papacy began, Pope Francis decided against the extra layer of protection, saying, "at my age, I don't have much to lose."

Sources

• FoxNews
• The Drive
• Daily Mail

Through the years, dozens of vehicles have been specially tailored by carmakers like Cadillac, Mercedes and Jeep for the needs of the pontiff. Read more

The adapted version has five seats and a "particularly comfortable" rear bench, a large sunroof, roof-mounted grab handles and a removable glass superstructure.

The popemobile suspension has been lowered by 30mm to allow for easier access. Read more

The accident left Francis, who is 80, with a black eye and blood-spattered clothes. Read more

Another pope mobile has hit the auction block. The website Charitybuzz auctioned one of the Fiat 500s that toted Pope Francis around New York in September.

Miles Nadal, an entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist, says he paid $300,000 for the car.

That's more than 10 times the asking price for a new 101-horsepower Fiat 500 Lounge, which goes for between $19,000 and $21,000, depending on the features.

Of course, the most alluring featuring of this particular Fiat 500 is that the pontiff was its passenger.

Not that anyone's questioning the church's veracity, but for good measure, the Secret Service attested to the car's authenticity, and the Archdiocese of New York will provide the winning bidder with a letter of confirmation, according to Charitybuzz.

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Tall and boxy or sleek and chic, it's the one white ride that always catches people's eye, mostly because of the special passenger waving inside.

The popemobile is a specially modified vehicle that gives the pope enough elevation and visibility that people can see him more easily as he rides through a crowd.

Its top and sides can be open or partially or fully enclosed with thick bullet-proof glass, depending on the venue and what security personnel decide.

Pope Francis, who preferred subways over SUVs when he lived in Buenos Aires, has lamented the "sardine can" feel from high-security popemobiles.

"I cannot greet a nation and tell it that I love it from inside a sardine can, even one made of glass. For me, that is a wall," he said in an interview in 2014. "It's true that something can happen to me, but let's be realistic, at my age I don't have much to lose."

It was probably only natural that his church-whose-doors-are-open philosophy also apply to the popemobile. Before his general audience in St. Peter's Square, he occasionally picks up "hitchhikers" for a spin — mostly school kids, and once a priest from his former archdiocese.

The open popemobile also entices people to engage in a game of toss — hefting hats, T-shirts, rosaries, flowers, flags, notes and other goodies toward the pope, who almost always makes the catch.

In his visit to the United States, Pope Francis used a modified Jeep Wrangler like the one he used in Ecuador in July.

The Vatican ships the popemobile by special air cargo to the cities he will be visiting abroad. If the cities are many or far apart, the Vatican will ship more than one vehicle.

There is also a backup vehicle in case of mechanical difficulties. Continue reading

Source & Image:

• Vassallomalta

Rather, the Pope wants to travel by an ordinary car during his visit from May 24-26.

Most heads of state use bullet-proof transport in the Middle East.

Fears about security for the pontiff have been rising in Israel amid concerns that Francis's pilgrimage could be disrupted by extremists.

Following a series of threats to Christians and the desecration of holy sites, Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch warned of a "wave of extremist terror" in Israel.

Patriarch Fouad Twal said that a wave of fanaticism and intimidation against Christians was "poisoning" the festive spirit in the city in the run-up to the historic visit.

Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said: "The Pope wants an open popemobile and a normal car."

"The local security officials took the wishes of the Pope into consideration. I don't think there was too much discussion about that," the Jesuit said.

Previous pontiffs were driven in bullet-proof limousines on trips, after the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II.

Security broke down and police were unable to control crowds in Brazil last year when Francis was driven around Rio de Janeiro in a small silver Fiat, at his own request.

But Fr Lombardi said he did not expect similar scenes in the Middle East because Catholics are a minority there.

The Pope has invited a Muslim and a rabbi to join him on the visit to the Holy Land in what the Vatican called "an absolute first".

Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Omar Abboud are long time friends from Francis's days as Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

Francis wanted to show that it was "normal" to have friends from other faiths, Fr Lombardi said.

The Vatican has emphasised that the Pope's main purpose on the trip is to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.

Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew are scheduled meet four times during the pope's visit.

This comes 50 years after the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, which was a landmark opening in ecumenical dialogue.

Sources

• The Tablet
• Catholic News Service
• NBC News
• Image: Huffington Post

In bright winter sunshine, the 85-year-old German Pope was driven around St Peter's Square in a white Mercedes jeep.

During the course of the journey, the frail Pope Benedict waved to the 150,000 strong crowd and and even kissed a baby presented to him.

In return his supporters cheered, applauded and held banners aloft.

As the crowds waved flags from dozens of countries, the Popemobile, with the registration number SCV1 for Stato Della Citta del Vaticano (Vatican City State), drove him up an incline to a stage placed in front of the main entrance of St Peter's Basilica.

As he was driven through the square he was flanked by tight security.

As he began to speak, the crowd broke into chants of "Benedetto, Benedetto"

"I will continue to accompany the Church with my prayers, and I ask each of you to pray for me and for the new Pope", Benedict told the crowd.

He was given a standing ovation at the end of the address, with Catholic faithful waving banners which said "Grazie Santo Padre!" — Thank You Holy Father.

On Thursday, the pope will meet with cardinals for the final time and then fly by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo, the papal residence south of Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI will greet parishioners there from the palazzo's balcony, his final public act as pope, before his retirement officially begins at 8pm local time.