The Vatican unveils its holy garage of popemobiles used since 1930

The Vatican is opening a celebration of the popemobile, the now-iconic vehicle that for nearly a century has let popes get close to the faithful at home and abroad.

The Vatican Museums on Wednesday unveiled a preview of the exhibition commemorating “A Century of the Popemobile,” featuring eight Mercedes-Benz versions of the car that popes have used since 1930. It officially opens to the public on Thursday.

Separately, Pope Leo XIV — a big car lover — met with top Mercedes-Benz executives and thanked them for their partnership with the Holy See. In his remarks, the Chicago-born pope noted that the advances in automotive technology had accompanied the advances and evolutions of papal travel.

“Over the decades, the popemobile has evolved from a means of transportation into an instrument of encounter, enabling the pontiff to draw closer to the faithful during pastoral visits and public celebrations,” Leo said. “In this way, your work has helped facilitate the church’s mission of reaching out to people and bringing a message of faith, of hope and of charity to the world.”

The oldest car on display in the Vatican Museum exhibit was given to Pope Pius XI on May 23, 1930. The Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460 featured a luxurious armchair upholstered in silk brocade and finishes of fine wood and metal.

It “was specifically built, designed, and prepared for papal use, so much so that just by comparing it, you can see how it transitions from the serial to the unique,” said Sandro Barbagallo, curator of the Historical Collections Department at the Vatican Museums.

“From this point, it is clear how all the cars were then made, precisely to allow the pope to be seen, but to be seen and to see in total safety and, I would even say, comfort,” he said.

IGNACIO MUNOZ/AFP/Getty Images

Popemobiles through the years

Later versions of the popemobile on view reflected the changing needs of a pope on the road, most importantly his need to engage with the faithful and — more recently — bless babies that were brought to him.

In 1960, Pope John XXIII was presented with the 300 d Landaulet, with a detail that foreshadowed change: The removable rear side windows allowed the future saint to reach out to those he met along the way.

In 1980, for St. John Paul II’s visit to Germany, Mercedes-Benz developed the 230 G, which featured another major innovation: a tall, transparent dome at the rear, providing safety but also guaranteeing a clear view for the millions of faithful gathered to see him.

In his remarks to the Mercedes-Benz executives, Leo recalled the electric popemobile they presented to Pope Francis in keeping with the Argentine pope’s ecological priorities.

“In this spirit, I encourage you to continue placing technological innovation at the service of human dignity, care for creation and the common good,” he said.

梵蒂冈将举办教皇座驾庆祝活动，这辆如今已成为标志性交通工具的座驾，近一个世纪以来一直让教皇能够近距离接触国内外的信徒。

梵蒂冈博物馆周三揭幕了“教皇座驾百年纪念展”的预展，展出了自 1930 年以来教皇使用的八辆梅赛德斯-奔驰教皇座驾。该展览将于周四正式向公众开放。

此外，酷爱汽车的教宗良十四世会见了梅赛德斯-奔驰的高管，并感谢他们与圣座的合作。这位出生于芝加哥的教宗在讲话中指出，汽车技术的进步与教宗出行方式的进步和演变相辅相成。

“几十年来，教宗座驾已从一种交通工具演变为一种与信徒接触的媒介，使教宗能够在牧灵访问和公开庆典中更贴近信徒，”利奥说道。“通过这种方式，你们的工作有助于教会更好地履行其使命，即接触民众，并将信仰、希望和仁爱的讯息带给全世界。”

梵蒂冈博物馆展出的最古老的汽车于 1930 年 5 月 23 日赠予教皇庇护十一世。这辆梅赛德斯-奔驰纽博格林 460 配备了一张用丝绸锦缎装饰的豪华扶手椅，以及精美的木材和金属饰面。

梵蒂冈博物馆历史收藏部馆长桑德罗·巴尔巴加洛说：“它是专门为教皇使用而建造、设计和准备的，以至于仅仅通过比较，你就可以看出它是如何从批量生产过渡到独一无二的。”

“从这一点就可以看出，当时所有车辆的制造目的都是为了方便教皇被看到，而且是为了让教皇在完全安全，甚至可以说是舒适的环境下被看到，”他说。

伊格纳西奥·穆诺兹/法新社/盖蒂图片社

历年来的教皇座驾

后来展出的教皇座驾反映了教皇在旅途中不断变化的需求，最重要的是他需要与信徒互动，以及——最近——为带到他面前的婴儿祝福。

1960 年，教皇约翰二十三世获赠一辆 300 d Landaulet 马车，其中一个细节预示着变革：可拆卸的后侧窗让这位未来的圣人能够与他沿途遇到的人们交流。

1980 年，为了迎接圣若望保禄二世访问德国，梅赛德斯-奔驰开发了 230 G 型汽车，该车具有另一项重大创新：车尾有一个高大的透明圆顶，既保证了安全，又保证了聚集在一起瞻仰圣若望保禄二世的数百万信徒能够清晰地看到他。

在对梅赛德斯-奔驰高管发表讲话时，利奥回忆起他们为了配合阿根廷教皇方济各的环保理念，向他赠送了一辆电动教皇座驾。

“本着这种精神，我鼓励你们继续将技术创新用于维护人类尊严、关爱自然和造福大众，”他说。