The pope's car once had a silk-upholstered armchair and later a transparent dome: How the iconic Mercedes-Benz evolved over nearly 100 years

A Mercedes-Benz vehicle for use by the pope could be seen as odd, considering the religious connotation of modesty. Some designs included an armchair made from silk, wooden interiors, and fancy metalwork. Another model featured a domed window in the roof through which crowds could view the pontiff from afar. And now comes the most recent development - an electric-powered car.

The design of the popemobile has changed greatly since the first use of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in 1930 for the pope. It started with an especially customised luxury limousine, but the concept eventually turned into a vehicle made for meeting the pope in public appearances.

Also Read | Phantom children, inflated food bills and a Somali restaurant: How a Minnesota nonprofit leader built a network for the $250 million COVID-19 food aid fraud scandal


The transformation of the car is now being showcased in an exhibition at the Vatican Museums called A Century of the Popemobile. This exhibition features eight historic cars from the German automaker that have been used since the connection of the company and the Holy See.

The exhibition officially began on Thursday after a private viewing where Pope Leo XIV thanked Mercedes-Benz for their continued cooperation with the Vatican. "As the Pontiff explained, the popemobile has evolved from just being a mode of transport to allowing the Pope to connect with the faithful," said CNN in their report.

The pope's first Mercedes-Benz had a silk-upholstered armchair

The history of this automobile started on May 23, 1930, when Pope Pius XI was presented with a Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460. This is not just another example of the mass-produced car but one which had been customised specially to serve the pope.

This luxurious car contained an armchair in silk brocade and perfectly crafted wooden and metallic parts. It is important to note that this car shows the era when official cars were supposed to symbolise something more than just being a means of transportation.

Also Read | A mother borrowed $28,000 to help her son become a photographer in California. Ten years later, they're both still paying for a college that no longer exists

Sandro Barbagallo, curator of the Historical Collections Department of the Vatican Museums, said that this car shows the transformation of a simple automobile into a special-purpose one. These changes not only have aesthetic value but also create a special car for the needs of the pope.

The Nürburg 460 is the oldest Mercedes-Benz automobile featured in the new exhibition. The inclusion of this automobile in the exhibition gives an insight into how differently the travels of the pope took place prior to the introduction of the popemobile.

According to CNN, the subsequent cars were designed based on the necessity for the pope to see people and to be seen by people. It was the necessity which ultimately altered the design of the car more significantly than any fancy interior.

Removable windows and a transparent dome changed the design

This trend was witnessed in the 1960s when more effort was placed on bringing the pope into direct interaction with the crowds that assembled for such an occasion.

An example was the gift of the Mercedes-Benz 300 d Landaulet, which was gifted to Pope John XXIII in 1960. This particular model had removable side windows at the back so that the pope could interact with the crowds along the route.

Also Read | Christine Lagarde is leaving the ECB early, and Europe's economic future could look very different: What the region stands to lose — and gain

While this looks small, it was actually a new application of the vehicle because this one not only functioned as an enclosed limousine but could facilitate interaction.

In 1980, Mercedes-Benz developed the 230 G model for Pope John Paul II. The unique feature of this model was that the back of this particular model had a high transparent dome.

This ensured that the spectators had a better sightline of the pope while ensuring that he was in a safe location at the same time. This contributed to the current appearance of the popemobile.

CNN stated that the change in the design was influenced by the realities of the travelling pope, which include greeting believers as well as blessing babies that were brought to him recently.

Visibility became the key feature of the new vehicle. While the regular limousine could have moved the pope from one place to another, the new popemobile enabled thousands of people to see him while driving.

From a traditional Mercedes to an electric popemobile

Indeed, the development has continued owing to changes in technology and expectations in relation to transport. Pope Francis got an all-electric Mercedes-Benz popemobile, which was reflective of his commitment to environmental responsibility and care for creation.

The car represented a big change in relation to the image of the popemobile but at the same time maintained the same purpose which characterised its predecessors: the closer interaction of the pope with people.

Pope Leo XIV expressed his understanding of the development in his meeting with executives of Mercedes-Benz. He observed that the development in automotive technology was in conjunction with changes in travel and the responsibilities of popes in performing their official tasks.

Moreover, he encouraged the company to use innovation in such a way that promotes human dignity, environmental protection and the common good.

The exhibition takes into account a long historical background of the development. Eight cars presented represent the response to changing conditions in the cooperation between Mercedes-Benz and the Vatican in designing the popemobiles.

Collaboration with Mercedes-Benz has entailed making cars for a passenger whose appearance before the masses is unique. Of course, the comfort of the individual is paramount, yet the need to be seen and the capability to interact with the crowds is equally important, as well as the need to move through congested areas.

Consequently, the special appearance of the popemobile has a purpose that goes beyond style. In fact, the popemobile has been designed to allow the pope to move around in a way that allows him to remain accessible to people who await him.

It has been more than 90 years since Pope Pius XI got his Nürburg 460 popemobile with a velvet interior, and it can be said that the latest electric popemobile marks the evolution of the special car.