What Will The American Popemobile Be? We Have Some Ideas
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected on Thursday to be the first US-Built …uh, we mean, US-born Pope.
The Holy Father chose the papal name Leo XIV and immediately assumed his duties. While he has far more important tasks to worry about, one thing he might need to oversee at some point is the replacement for the most recent “Popemobile” that was used by his predecessor, Pope Francis.
The electric G-Class was donated to the church by Mercedes-Benz last year, but Francis willed it to the Catholic aid organization Caritas Jerusalem to be turned into a mobile children’s health clinic for use in Gaza.
While The Vatican has plenty of vehicles in its motor pool, this historic moment offers the opportunity for an American automaker to provide transportation for the Pontiff and here are a few possibilities that come to mind:
LINCOLN AVIATOR
Leo hails from Chicago and there’s only one automobile factory in the city. It builds the Lincoln Aviator, which looks dazzling in white and is definitely large enough to be converted into a Popemobile. Of course, if he’d rather stick with a humbler ride, the Ford Explorer is built there, too.
RIVIAN R1T
Rivians aren’t from Chicago, but they are made about 2.5 hours away in Normal, Illinois. The R1T pickup is built on a sturdy frame, has an open bed that’s ready to haul an enclosure and would make a fine electric successor to the G-Class.
CADILLAC CELESTIQ
If The Vatican can have a Mercedes-Benz, it can certainly have a Cadillac. (Is it even considered ostentatious if it is a donation?) Regardless, the dazzling $340,000 super-luxury Celestiq is designed on GM’s Ultium electric vehicle platform, which features a skateboard-type chassis that can easily accommodate a variety of body styles. The main issue is that its epic 217-inch length isn’t ideal for navigating the tight streets of Vatican City and Rome.
JEEP GLADIATOR
The last time Pope Francis visited the U.S. in 2015 he was transported in a Jeep Wrangler-based Popemobile and that might be the way to go again. It’s a relatively modest model, its truck frame can handle the weight of the modifications and Jeep is regularly voted the most patriotic brand so it would proudly carry the flag even as it flies those of Vatican City on its fenders. The Gladiator pickup that launched in 2020 might be an even better choice for the project with its open top and bed.