World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Vatican exhibition traces a century of popemobiles
The Vatican Museums unveiled an exhibition of eight Mercedes-Benz popemobiles in Vatican City.
It opens to the public Thursday and marks nearly a century of cooperation between Mercedes-Benz and the Holy See.
The first Mercedes-Benz car for a pope was given to Pope Pius XI in 1930.
Over time, the popemobile became a way for popes to meet the faithful, while also helping them travel safely and comfortably.
Pope Leo XIV met Mercedes-Benz executives and thanked the company for its partnership with the Holy See.
He urged the company to put technology at the service of human dignity and the common good.
The exhibition shows how the vehicles changed as the needs of papal travel evolved.
The Vatican Museums unveiled an exhibition tracing nearly a century of papal vehicles, with eight Mercedes-Benz popemobiles on display.
The exhibition, titled “A Century of the Popemobile,” officially opens to the public on Thursday.
The vehicles show how papal cars developed from Pope Pius XI’s first Mercedes-Benz in 1930 to modern popemobiles.
Pope Leo XIV said the vehicles evolved from transportation into a way for popes to meet the faithful.
Leo met Mercedes-Benz executives and thanked them for the company’s partnership with the Holy See.
- Who
- The Vatican Museums and Pope Leo XIV are presenting the exhibition. It features eight Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
- What
- An exhibition traces a century of popemobiles and their development.
- When
- It was previewed on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, and opens to the public on Thursday.
- Where
- The Vatican Museums, Vatican City.
- Why
- To commemorate the long relationship between Mercedes-Benz and the Holy See and show how papal vehicles have changed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Pope Pius XI received the first Mercedes-Benz automobile associated with the long relationship between the company and the Holy See.
The Vatican Museums unveiled a preview of “A Century of the Popemobile,” and Pope Leo XIV met Mercedes-Benz executives.
The exhibition is scheduled to open to the public.
- Exhibition title
- A Century of the Popemobile
- Vehicles on display
- Eight Mercedes-Benz versions
- First papal Mercedes-Benz
- Received by Pope Pius XI in 1930
- Preview
- Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026
- Venue
- Vatican Museums, Vatican City
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What people are saying
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.
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,