What will happen to $500K Popemobile in wake of Pope Francis' passing?
- Pope Francis recently passed away at the age of 88
- This comes a few months after a new Popemobile was introduced
- Made by Mercedes-Benz, it’s a truly bespoke vehicle
Published on Apr 22, 2025 at 5:48 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Apr 22, 2025 at 5:28 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
In light of the news about the passing of Pope Francis, what will happen to his $500k Popemobile?
The Pontiff passed away on April 21 at the age of 88.
With speculation mounting on who will succeed him as the head of the Catholic Church, many are contemplating the Vatican’s future.
In particular, the fate of the $500k Mercedes-Benz SUV gifted to Francis a few months ago has generated some attention.
EXPLORE SBX CARS – Supercar auctions starting soon powered by Supercar Blondie
The Popemobile gifted to Pope Francis a few short months ago
As far as recognizable cars go, the Popemobile is up there.
The specially designed vehicle has been used by various Popes throughout the years.
It enabled them to safely pass through crowds and greet believers.
Various designs and models have been used throughout the years, with some being open-air and others making use of bulletproof glass.
This latter design was deemed necessary after the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II.
Much like presidential vehicles, safety had to come first.
All vehicles in the Vatican City have registrations beginning with SC – an abbreviation of the Latin Status Civitatis Vaticanae [Vatican City State].
Mercedes-Benz has been responsible for making the Popemobile for a while now.
In December 2024, the manufacturer went electric and based the latest design on the Mercedes-Benz G580 EV.
According to Mercedes, the G-Wagon was built to reach more than 200,000 miles and have a lifespan of more than 30 years.
But what will happen to the car now?
The fate of Mercedes’ latest creation for the Vatican
At this moment in time, its not clear what will happen to the Popemobile.
But given the impressive stats presented above, and the car’s new condition, we imagine it will be kept on hold for Francis’ successor.
With an estimated cost of $500,000, we can’t see them trading the car in anytime soon.
The customizations done on the Mercedes-Benz G580 EV keep the Pope’s extensive duties in mind.
The rear of the vehicle has a special height-adjustable seat for the Pope, allowing him to move around and greet the crowd from different angles.
Mercedes has been making Popemobiles since the 1930s.
There’s been no indication that this partnership will cease going forward, regardless of who presides as the Bishop of Rome.
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.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
