Pope Francis once had a very unusual custom car gifted to him for a visit to Japan
- Did you know that the late Pope Francis had an unusual custom car?
- He was gifted a custom Toyota Popemobile for a visit to Japan
- The car is very unusual due to the way it is powered
Published on Apr 25, 2025 at 9:51 AM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Apr 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Did you know Pope Francis once had a very unusual custom car gifted to him for a visit to Japan?
The very special Popemobile was created by Toyota and was gifted to his late Holiness by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan (CBCJ).
The adapted Toyota Mirai Popemobile was interesting for a few special reasons, including being adapted to suit his mobility needs.
Most interestingly though, this particular Popemobile was created knowing about the Pope’s love of protecting the environment and so it was powered by Hydrogen.
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Pope Francis and his very unusual Popemobile from Japan
The late Pope Francis had a surprising collection of modified cars created for special events and meetups.
He was gifted a very interesting version of the Popemobile from Toyota in Japan by Reverend Father Domenico Makoto Wada (representing the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan) and His Excellency Seiji Okada (Ambassador of Japan to the Holy See).
The Popemobile in question was a Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen powered saloon car, named after the future which was first launched and mass-produced in 2014.
Pope my ride
The holy custom car was 5.1 meters and a had a height of 2.7 meters so that he could stand up and be visible to the people who had come to see him.
Pope Francis had a deep interest in global environmental issues, so the Toyota Mirai being completely hydrogen powered with a range of approximately 300 miles and emitting only water was perfect for him.
While there are many different iterations of the Popemobile – including this epic Mercedes-Benz G580 EV that is estimated to cost more than $500,000 – this one is arguably top of the Popes.
Other models used by Francis during his 12 year papacy included a Fiat 500L, a Jeep Wrangler, a Isuzu D-Max, and a Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The Popemobile is recognized the world over, and has even been honored by Carlex with this 6-wheeled monster.
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Daisy Edwards is a Content Writer at supercarblondie.com. Daisy has more than five years’ experience as a qualified journalist, having graduated with a History and Journalism degree from Goldsmiths, University of London and a dissertation in vintage electric vehicles. Daisy specializes in writing about cars, EVs, tech and luxury lifestyle. When she's not writing, she's at a country music concert or working on one of her many unfinished craft projects.
