This is a symbolic vehicle of our society and of the papacy. The papamobile will be circulating in Paris for the visit of Pope Leo XIV. Here’s the car in question.
A trip to France planned for September
The name papamobile first appeared with John Paul II. Still, for many years the pope has traveled with his official car. Each time this car hits the road, it draws all eyes.
It is, in fact, one of the most iconic vehicles. This special car is supplied by the automaker Mercedes and accompanies the pope on all of his foreign trips. This will be the case for France, from September 25 to 28, 2026. Indeed, Pope Leo XIV will be in France, with an initial outing on Friday, September 25 in the capital, Paris. His visit will conclude on Sunday, September 28 in Metz.
For many French, it will be an opportunity to get a closer look at this famous papamobile. The latest version was delivered in 2024 by Mercedes and is based on a Mercedes-Benz Classe G. A big 4×4—very modern—and, for the first time, 100% electric. That means it emits no exhaust gases during operation.
A modern and electric vehicle!
This modern take on the papamobile is therefore a fully electric version. It marks a major milestone for this vehicle, which, as a reminder, is based on the Mercedes-Benz Classe G. At the rear of the vehicle sits a single seat, replacing the rear bench and positioned in the center. It is also height-adjustable but can also swivel to allow the Pope to address the crowd from different angles. Behind the single seat, there are two seats on the left and right to accommodate additional passengers. The dashboard is also very modern with a touchscreen.
But that’s not all! Indeed, this papamobile is distinguished by the fact that it has no roof. Still, Mercedes assures that a roof can be installed “in case of rain or inclement weather.” The paintwork, however, isn’t surprising, as you’ll find the classic pearl white exterior.
A small quirk of the papamobile is the license plate. This vehicle always bears “SCV 1” for “Stato della Città del Vaticano”, i.e. the Vatican City State. As for the number 1, it is reserved for the Pope’s vehicle.
