Leo XIV: The Papal Car Is a Tool for Encounter with the Faithful

Leo XIV: The Popemobile Is an Instrument of Encounter with the Faithful

(Vatican News) The German automaker Mercedes-Benz has been serving the Holy See and the Pope for nearly a century. The value of the Popemobile is hard to measure, for beyond the miles it has traveled and the excitement it has stirred, this simple vehicle has become an "instrument of encounter," enabling the successor of Peter to proclaim the message of faith, hope and charity to people around the world. Pope Leo XIV stressed this point on the morning of October 28 when he received the leadership of Mercedes-Benz in the side hall of the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican.

The Relationship Between the Holy See and Mercedes-Benz

The audience took place on the occasion of an exhibition held at the Vatican Museums. Titled "A Century of the Popemobile," the exhibition celebrates the nearly hundred-year collaboration between this German automaker and the Holy See.

Pope Leo XIV observed: "This long relationship began in 1930, when Pope Pius XI accepted the first Mercedes-Benz automobile, and it has continued through the pastoral ministry of his successors. I am therefore very pleased to express my gratitude to you, and to the many generations of designers, engineers and workers, whose dedication and talent have made this long partnership possible."

From Means of Transport to Instrument of Encounter

The presentation of the exhibition took place on the morning of the 28th in the conference hall of the Vatican Museums. The Pope said that, through the exhibition, people are able to reflect on the remarkable progress of automotive technology and on the deeper meaning of papal travel.

"Over the decades, the Popemobile has evolved from a means of transport into an instrument of encounter, allowing the Pope to draw close to the faithful during pastoral visits and public events," the Pope said, noting that the automaker's work has served the Church's two great missions: encountering people, and bringing faith, hope and charity to the world.

Serving Human Dignity and Creation

As the Church approaches the Jubilee Year 2025, whose theme is hope, Pope Francis received the first fully electric Popemobile, an expression of a pastoral concern. In this regard, Leo XIV recalled Pope Francis's encouragement to the automotive industry, hoping they would continue striving to make transportation "truly sustainable and accessible."

The Pope concluded: "In this spirit, I encourage you to continue using technological innovation in the service of human dignity, the care of creation, and the common good."

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