Daimler CEO Dr. Dieter Zetsche
headed to Rome, Italy recently to personally greet
Pope Francis and hand over the keys to the Pontiff’s
new Popemobile, a modified Mercedes-Benz M Class.
The vehicle was built specially for the Pope and will
first go into action later this month when he makes
an official visit to Brazil.
During their encounter, Zetsche and the Pope also
discussed sustainable and safer mobility as well as
the Daimler’s charitable commitment. Zetsche is an
admitted fan of the Papacy and has previously
revealed that he was first lured to work for Mercedes-
Benz when as a youngster he saw Pope Paul VI being
driven by one of the automaker’s cars.
The latest Popemobile follows a long line of
Mercedes-Benz cars used by the leaders of the
Catholic Church over the past 80 years. Those
include the first, a Nürburg 460 Pullman Saloon for
Pope Pius XI. This was followed by a 600 Pullman
Landaulet and 300 SEL for Pope Jon XXIII. His
successor, Paul VI, used a Mercedes-Benz 600
pullman landaulet and, later, a 300 SEL.
The name “Popemobile” was first used in the 1980s
in reference to the modified Mercedes-Benz G Class
that Pope John Paul II regularly used for celebrations
in Saint Peter’s Square. The G-Class was replaced by
a Mercedes-Benz M Class in 2002. This specially built
version was also used by his successor, Benedict XVI.



www.motorauthority.com/news/1085370_pope-francis-presented-with-mercedes-m-class-based-popemobile

.. what abt the pics? how abt posting it on the thread?

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