From Seat To Mercedes, See The Evolution Of The Popemobile

Paul VI first had a Mercedes, specifically a 600 Landaulet, and then obtained a Lincoln Continental Limousine. It was converted into a Popemobile by Lehmann Peterson in 1964.

In the early 1980s, the Fiat Panda was also marketed under the Seat logo, before becoming the Marbella. The Pope was driving a Mercedes G-Class at the time, but a trip to Spain was planned and the sizable off-roader was too big to fit through some locations on the journey. As such, a prototype of Seat Panda was requisitioned and hastily converted.

In 1981, John Paul II was the victim of an attempted attack. That led to this curious Range Rover, modified to protect him. Many subsequent Popemobiles would offer similar protection.

In the mid-1980s, the Vatican once again used Mercedes sedans, like this W126 S-Class, as the official car for John Paul II.

The Pope's visit to Lyon in 1986 was marked by the creation of a French Popemobile, specially adapted for the occasion. It is a Renault Espace with reinforced windows and low-pressure tires, so that it can react sharply in the event of an assassination attempt.

This Cadillac DeVille Parade Phaeton was designed in 1998, especially for the arrival of John Paul II in the United States.

The first Popemobile of the Benedict XVI era, this Mercedes G-Class is a classic in Vatican vehicles with generations of the German off-roader having crossed pontifical periods.

Considered too uncomfortable, the G-Class was replaced by a more civilized Mercedes ML, and equipped again with a glass cabin, in order not to take any risk to Pope Francis' health.

In 2012, Renault forged new ties with the Pope and offered him a 100 percent electric Popemobile, a Kangoo Z.E, which he uses for his trips around his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.