Pope Leo XIV calls the popemobile a bridge to the faithful

Pope Leo XIV received Mercedes-Benz executives on the morning of October 28 in the Auletta of the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican for the opening of the exhibition "A Century of the Popemobile" at the Vatican Museums. The pope said the popemobile is no longer simply a vehicle but has become an instrument of encounter between the successors of Peter and the faithful around the world.

The partnership dates back to 1930, when Pope Pius XI received the first Mercedes-Benz car made available to the Holy See. It has continued through every pontificate since. Leo XIV thanked the executives present and, through them, the generations of designers, engineers and workers whose dedication made the long association possible.

The exhibition, presented in the Conference Hall of the Vatican Museums, offers an occasion to reflect on advances in automotive technology and on the deeper meaning of papal journeys over the decades, the pope said. Over that history the popemobile has undergone a fundamental change: from a means of transport it has become a vehicle of closeness, one that lets the pope draw near to the faithful during pastoral visits and public celebrations.

Leo XIV said the work of Mercedes-Benz has helped the Church in its mission of going out to meet people and bringing the world a message of faith, hope and charity. The first fully electric popemobile, delivered to Pope Francis ahead of the 2025 Jubilee of Hope, reflects that same spirit of pastoral care.

Leo XIV recalled that Francis had urged the auto industry to commit to making mobility "truly sustainable and accessible." He encouraged the company's leaders to keep putting technological innovation at the service of human dignity, care for creation and the common good. He restated the Church's commitment to integral ecology and to progress that benefits all of humanity.