Vatican Introduces Pope Francis' New Car, Mercedes-Benz G-Class Electric Powered

Pope Francis' new Papal Car. (Source: Mercedes-Benz)

JAKARTA - The Vatican on Wednesday introduced a new whale car with an open roof, the electric Mercedes-Benz that Pope Francis will use when welcoming pilgrims in St. Peter's Square.

The vehicle, based on the modified Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV, has an elevated seat for Pope Francis, so the crowd has a better chance of seeing the Pope.

The car comes in white, traditional Papal color, equipped with heating on the seat and on the handle that the Pope can use to maintain balance while standing in the vehicle.

"Every detail is perfect," Sten Ola Kallenius told Reuters as quoted December 5.

It took hundreds of hours to work on a unique whale car, said the Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz.

The Vatican did not immediately say when the new whale car would start operating, and declined to provide any information about the vehicle's safety features.

Since being appointed in 2013, Pope Francis has avoided the use ofealed vehicles more often, choosing to be as close to society as possible. Pope Francis also emphasized the importance of environmental issues during his papal period.

"With this new Pope's Car, Pope Francis became the first Pope to travel with a fully electric Mercedes-Benz when appearing in public. This is a special honor for our company, and I would like to thank His Majesty for her trust," Kallenius said. , quoted from the Mercedes-Benz website.

"With this Whale, we also convey a clear call for electromobility and decarbonization. Mercedes-Benz not only represents special and individual things but also consistently creates conditions for a new carbon-neutral car fleet by 2039," he added.

Mercedes-Benz is known to have produced vehicles for the Pope for travel and his public appearance for nearly 100 years.

The first vehicle of this type was N\"urburg 460 Pullman Saloon for Pope Pius XI from the 1930s. In the 1960s, Pope John XXIII received Landaulet 300 with automatic transmission and extended wheelbase. His successor, Pope Paul VI initially used Landaulet 600 Pullman and then 300 CELLs as well as Landaulet.

In the 1980s, Pope John Paul II used the first vehicle Popemobile officially called for events in St. Peter's Square, a modified 460 series G model. Since 2002, he has used the 463 G 500 series, which is also used by his successors, Benedict XVI and Francis.

Special design cars made based on Mercedes-Benz M-Class and GLE are also used at certain times.

"We built the perfect Mercedes for every customer including, for nearly 100 years, the Vatican. We are excited to be able to fulfill the wishes of the Holy Father for an electric-powered Pope's car and are very proud to be able to build the vehicle according to its needs," explains Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, responsive for Sales & Marketing Design Britta Seeger.

"This equivalent cooperation respects us very much and is a valuable symbol of a shared sustainable change," he continued.

After retiring from official duties, several Pope's cars were exhibited at the Vatican and the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.