Pope Francis has made his first appearance in the battery-powered G-Wagon Popemobile during a visit to Corsica.
The custom-made vehicle, equipped with a heated seat and armrests for the Holy Father, was delivered to him last week, just in time for his first use on Sunday.
Made by Mercedes-Benz, the first fully electric popemobile also has a special place for Swiss Guards to stand guard over the pontiff – who turns 88 on Tuesday.
In addition, the modified G-Wagon is not only beautiful, it is environmentally friendly – an issue close to the Pope’s heart.
In addition to having a heater to keep His Holiness warm as he greets Catholic pilgrims on a cold winter’s day in St Peter’s Square, the new car also has a roof to protect Pope Francis from the elements. elementary things.
And, of course, the chair was raised to give the crowd a better view of the pontiff as he drove in his new set of wheels.
Two white-and-yellow Vatican flags fly on either side of the Mercedes G-Class’s hood, whose registration plate is SCV1 – which stands for Status Civitatis Vaticanae, Latin for Vatican City State.
The pearl-white popemobile is powered by an electric motor that is ‘limited to the low speeds required for the public image’ of the pope, Mercedes says.
Pope Francis comes to venerate the small statue of the Madonuccia (the saint of Ajaccio) in Ajaccio, as part of his visit to the French island of Corsica, on December 15, 2024
The modified G-Wagon isn’t just stylish, it’s environmentally friendly – an issue close to the Pope’s heart.
The seat was raised to allow the crowd a better view of the pontiff as he drove his new set of wheels.
The new motor comes with a new heated convertible seat and armrest
The CEO Ola Kallenius and the engineers working on the special project presented Pope Francis with the car that was built in person at the Vatican.
Building a car for the papacy is a ‘special honor for our company’, says Kallenius.
The Stuttgart-based car maker has supplied the Vatican with popemobiles for the past 45 years, according to the company.
The change to electric popemobiles is consistent with Francis’ work to create the environment one of the main projects of his kingdom since the position of pontiff in the year 2013.
Pope Francis used the white G-Wagon on Sunday during his first papal visit to the French island of Corsica.
Speaking at the end of the Mediterranean conference on popular worship, Father Francesco, who is said to be in Corsican, described the world’s mission as ‘not stable and stable, but it is growing and powerful,’ which can adapt to ’emergency situations’ and promote cooperation ‘between civil and religious authorities.’
The pontiff said that demonstrations of popular worship, including processions, the collective prayer of the Holy Rosary, ‘can foster good citizenship’ among Christians.
At the same time, he cautioned that these revelations should not be seen only on the basis of tradition or religion.
Pope Francis will visit Corsica, a stronghold of the Catholic faith and locals are eagerly anticipating the pontiff’s first visit to the French Mediterranean island.
During his first papal visit to Corsica, Pope Francis will attend a popular meeting of the Faith in the Mediterranean, meet with the clergy and religious of the island, and conduct the Holy Mass.
The pearl-white popemobile is powered by an electric motor that is ‘set to the lowest speeds required for the public image’ of the pope, says Mercedes
Chancellor Ola Kallenius and the engineers working on the special project presented Pope Francis with the body-building vehicle at the Vatican.
The Pope arrived in his new G-Wagon Popemobile
The Stuttgart-based automaker has supplied the Vatican with popemobiles for the past 45 years, according to the company.
In a foreign address, the pope spoke of his experience attending a conference in northern Argentina before his pontificate where he saw the importance of popular worship for the faithful. looking for a good life.’
After the Pope arrived on his new wheels on the environment, many people remembered his urgent request for climate action in his book ‘Laudato Si’ in 2015, argued He said that the world should work together to protect our home.
Francis renewed his landmark document in 2023 when he criticized the slow pace of climate action and became the first pope to attend United Nations climate talks in person.
Last month, his environmental credentials were questioned when a 200-year-old tree growing in a forest in northern Italy was cut down and given to the Vatican as a Christmas tree.
More than 53,000 people signed a petition calling for it to be 100ft tall, nicknamed The Green Giant.
The Mercedes popemobile is not the first electric vehicle used by the Vatican.
French carmaker Renault previously presented Francis, Benedict XVI, with an electric passenger car in 2012.
Earlier this year, the Pope was seen struggling to get into his last popemobile after an audience at the Vatican, as breathing and mobility problems continued to plague the 87-year-old pontiff.
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