Vatican opens exhibition of papal Mercedes-Benz vehicles

The Vatican Museums opened an exhibition of eight Mercedes-Benz vehicles used by popes, tracing nearly a century of changes in papal transport and public appearances. “A Century of the Popemobile” opened to the public on October 29 and is scheduled to run through January 31, 2027. The display follows the vehicles from the Nürburg 460 presented to Pope Pius XI in 1930 to models developed for later pontiffs. The Vatican Museums’ collection focuses on Mercedes-Benz vehicles and does not include popemobiles supplied by other manufacturers. Early models balanced formal travel with opportunities for popes to meet people along their routes. A 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 d Landaulet for Pope John XXIII had removable rear side windows, allowing him to reach out to crowds. In 1965, a Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet for Pope Paul VI added a folding roof that let him stand and greet pilgrims. A 1980 Mercedes-Benz 230 G made for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Germany marked a shift toward the modern popemobile. Its raised transparent enclosure kept the pope visible while providing protection. Later vehicles incorporated additional safety measures, including bullet-resistant glass introduced...