Vatican Museums Showcase a Century of Papal Vehicles

30 Oct 2026

A new exhibition at the Vatican Museums traces the transformation of papal transport, from ceremonial limousines to the familiar white Popemobile designed to bring the Pope closer to people lining the streets.

Eight vehicles, nearly a century of history

Inaugurated on 28 October 2026, A Century of the Popemobile brings together eight historic Mercedes-Benz papal vehicles. The display also explores the origins of motoring and highlights how vehicle design has adapted to public appearances and security needs.

The relationship between Mercedes-Benz and the Holy See began in 1930, when a Nürburg 460 Pullman limousine was supplied to Pope Pius XI. Later models introduced roofs and windows that could open to give the faithful a better view of the Pope.

An instrument of encounter

The modern Popemobile emerged in the pontificate of John Paul II. Among the vehicles featured in the historical account is the ML 430 introduced for World Youth Day in Toronto in 2002, with a transparent enclosure designed for visibility.

Meeting Mercedes-Benz representatives on 28 October, Pope Leo XIV reflected on how papal vehicles had become a means of encounter rather than merely a form of transport. He encouraged technological innovation that respects human dignity and care for creation.