Vatican Popemobiles
A popemobile used by successive popes is displayed at "A Century of the Popemobile," an exhibition tracing 100 years of papal transportation, from Pope Pius XI's first automobile in 1930 to modern popemobiles, at the Vatican Museums, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
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The Vatican is opening a celebration of the popemobile. The now-iconic vehicle has allowed popes to get close to the faithful at home and abroad for nearly a century. The Vatican Museums unveiled a preview of the exhibition on Wednesday commemorating “A Century of the Popemobile.” It features eight Mercedes-Benz versions of the car that popes have used since 1930. Pope Leo XIV is a big car lover. He separately met with top Mercedes-Benz executives and thanked them for their partnership with the Holy See. The Chicago-born pope noted in his remarks that the advances in automotive technology had accompanied the advances and evolutions of papal travel. The exhibition officially opened to the public Thursday.
