Pope My Ride: The Coolest Popemobiles Ever
This set of wheels seems purely heaven-sent. Pope Francis will sell his Harley Davidson motorcycle next month and donate the proceeds to a charity that feeds the hungry. The pontiff received the Harley from the Milwaukee-based manufacturer last June on the company's 110th anniversary; it's said to have few miles on it. But even without the pope's scrawled signature on the gas tank, the bike's estimated worth is $16,400 to $20,500.
Associated Press
When Pope Francis urged Catholic priests last summer to choose "more humble" vehicles - and to put the poor before their personal comfort - few expected him to choose his own modest set of wheels for driving around Rome. But the Holy Father chose a Ford Focus hatchback that dates to 2008. It has few amenities, no exterior markings and cloth seats, unlike his predecessor's Mercedes-based Popemobile and custom-built electric Renault vans.
Tony Gentile/REUTERS
This battered Renault 4L - a 1984 model - was given to Pope Francis in September 2013 by the Rev. Renzo Zocca, a 69-year-old parish priest from northern Italy. "The security personnel next to me were very concerned because they understood that from now on he would be tooling around the Vatican in my car," Zocca told the Italian Catholic weekly Famiglia Cristiana. "I left some snow chains in the trunk. You never know," Zocca told police.
REUTERS
Pope Francis greets enthusiastic crowds as he coasts along Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, July 2013. But he's hardly one to hide behind the pomp and circumstance of his popemobile. Earlier this month, he was riding in the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square when he spotted Father Fabian Baez, a fellow priest from Argentina. Just like a regular person, he stopped the popemobile and gave Baez a ride.
REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
Benedict XVI, who was pope from 2005 to 2013, cited advanced age and failing strength when he resigned the pontificate last February, the first resignation of a pope in 600 years. The pope emeritus now lives in a secluded residence in the Vatican gardens. In this photo, he arrives in his popemobile to conduct an open-air mass service at the Beirut City Centre Waterfront, September 2012.
REUTERS/Sharif Karim
This beast of a Holy Roller was developed under the watchful gaze and gentle guidance of Pope John Paul II, who was head of the Catholic Church from October 1978 to his death in 2005. Though the vehicle, the FCS Star, was originally built for firefighting duty, this one was repurposed to protect only against fire and brimstone.
Wikimedia Commons
John Paul II had a penchant for a hefty popemobile (the word popemobile, by the way, didn't come into widespread use until John Paul II's pontificate, though he was uncomfortable with it). A Ford Transit truck was transformed in 1979 for Pope John Paul II’s first visit to the United Kingdom. Later, following the assassination attempt in 1981, the popemobile was fitted with bulletproof glass on four sides.
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Pope John Paul II used this reinforced bus while on a visit to Mexico. It has sinced been fenced off and is used as a shrine by devout Mexican Catholics.
Wikimedia Commons
Here was one fearless pope on wheels: Pope John Paul II was not afraid to put the top down in this Ferrari Mondial during a visit to Italy in 1988.
AP
After 30 years of duty, the Nurburg - the first popemobile - was starting to show its age. Mercedes then stepped in with this handsome limousine, adding such modern marvels as air conditioning.
Daimler
This Mercedes Benz Nurburg was the first recognized popemobile. Given by Daimler to Pope Pius XI, it was considered one of the best engineered cars of its day - so much so that it was used by the pope for the next 30 years.
Wikimedia Commons
In the 19th century, when the grand sedia gestatoria, or portable papal throne, wouldn't cut the mustard on longer trips, there was always the papal train. Built in Glasgow, the train bears the inscription ‘Go out into the whole world’ on its side. This image shows Pope Pius XI trucking along to some presumably important appointment.
Public Domain
Once upon a time, the sedia gestatoria was the only way for an image-conscious pope to get around town. It was a lavishly decorated throne that was carried around by 12 uniformed footmen. In this photo, Pope Paul VI has a ceremonial stint in the lofted chair.
Wikimedia Commons