Of the Gestatory Chair , which was an open throne loaded on the shoulders of the papal assistants in solemn ceremonies, and which was last used by Pope John Paul I in 1978, to a much more modern papal vehicle, glazed, armored and engineered, designed to move the Supreme Pontiff among the crowd to be seen by the parishioners. We talked about the famous Papamóvil of which we will tell you some curiosities that you may like to know.
Surely you will have noticed this vehicle, nicknamed Papamóvil, which began to move John Paul II, establishing a new custom among the popes who succeeded him. You may have wondered what brand they are, what speed they can reach, what their economic value is ... If you are as curious as we are, read on and discover the secrets of the Popemobile!
Papamóvil | 10 Curiosities
1. The first Papamóvil Motor was created in Ireland, in 1979, to serve Pope John Paul II, who eliminated the Gestatory Chair and popularized the carrosanto from his first visit to that country. The dimensions of this vehicle were much greater than those of the current papamobiles, a Ford D Series that would be followed by other increasingly sophisticated models.
2. Mercedes-Benz, the brand par excellence of Papamóvil , has created 12 models over the years for the Head of State of the Vatican CITY. Although GMC, Toyota, Fiat, SEAT, Isuzu, Kia, Hyundai, Jeep and Land Rover have also been involved in variations of the papal vehicle.
3. It is assured that there is no official name for the popemobile, however familiar the term may seem. However, in 2012, the Dictionary of the Spanish language decided to add it to his lexicographical work.
4. Pope John Paul II would not have liked the fact that the term was accepted and popularized so much papamobile , since it considered that the word was "unworthy", ordinary and lends itself to satire.
5. After the assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II in 1981, all the models of the Popemobile were made with bulletproof glass.
6. The Papamóvil can usually travel at low speed, however, these vehicles reach a maximum speed of 235 km / h, in case an emergency escape is necessary.
7. The designs of the Popemobile vary according to the personal taste of the dad . For example, Pope John Paul II chose for his visit to Mexico one of the most striking Papamóvil in history, a white and yellow bus, very popular, which eliminated the side windows and the roof to be in contact with his people .
8. For his part, Pope Benedict XVI used mostly Mercedes-Benz cars, class M adapted to withstand shots, bombs and explosions.
9. The registration that uses the Popemobile carries the designation SVC1 which means Stato della Cittá del Vaticano (State of the Vatican City). And the number 1, to symbolize which vehicle belongs to the Sovereign Pontiff.
10. The current popemobile is valued at 400 thousand euros . It's a Mercedes-Benz G-Class with a gasoline engine V8 with 388 horsepower , with oxygen supply, outdoor cabin and armored side panels. Luxurious!
11. As a curious fact, Pope Francis has requested that the side windows of the Popemobile be eliminated, that the glass is not shielded and that the vehicle be easy to descend to greet those present.
12. The current Popemobile has a papal chair capable of rotating 360º, so the Pope can devote his attention to all believers who have come to see him. What do you think about the idea?
13. While it is true that the crystals on the seat of the pope of the current popemobile, unlike those of John Paul II, are not bulletproof, they are designed to protect UV rays.
14. It is a tradition that for pastoral visits to different countries, each locality offers a carrosanto for the transfer of the Supreme Pontiff. Interestingly, many of the Papamobiles that are used in each country remain in these.
15. When he does not make official visits and travels around Rome, Pope Francis prefers to use a very old Renault 4L, which was given to him by a priest.
What do you think about these curiosities about the Papamobile? Did you imagine they would have so much value? Did you know it could be so fast? Undoubtedly, it is a vehicle as special as its license plate, of which we now know many more secrets.
Now tell us what you think about this papal vehicle. Do you think it is necessary that it has been shielded so much? What do you think of Pope Francis's request to lower protection, to be more accessible to the believers who come to see him? Do you think it is really essential that there is a specific vehicle for these visits? Send us your opinion and, if you know more information about the popemobile, do not hesitate to share them with us! Leave us a comment next! We will love reading!