VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pope Francis received a fully electric Mercedes-Benz popemobile on Wednesday (Dec. 4), which combines his concern for the environment with the comforts required by a nearly 88-year-old pontiff.
Vatican journalists were escorted inside the Vatican, passing through a parking lot with still-wrapped electric car charging stations, as the city-state continues in its effort to achieve zero emissions. Francis, sitting on his wheelchair, met with 15 members of the creative and directive team of Mercedes-Benz, which has been a key provider of popemobiles for the Vatican for almost 100 years, though this is the company’s first fully electric offering.
The immediately recognizable popemobile required hundreds of hours of manufacturing and about a year to make. “Every detail is perfection,” said Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedez-Benz, pointing to the papal crest emblazoned on the vehicle.
“The pope will travel with zero-emissions aboard the new Mercedez-Benz in time for the 2025 Jubilee, an event that only occurs every 25 years and for which millions of pilgrims are expected to come to Rome,” read the statement issued by the German luxury carmakers on Wednesday.
The statement also underlined that the new popemobile “contributes to the realization of Laudato Sì,” Pope Francis’ 2015 “green” encyclical centered on the importance of c …