By Diego López Colín
ACI Prensa Staff, May 19, 2025 / 12:03 pm
From a portable throne carried on the shoulders of attendants to state-of-the-art electric cars, the pope’s means of transportation have evolved considerably over time, reflecting changes in the Church, technology, and the world.
For centuries, pontiffs used the “sedia gestatoria” (Italian for “portable chair”), a type of ceremonial throne used for solemn events adorned with feathered fans and carried by men during solemn ceremonies. The last to use a gestatory chair was John Paul I.
For longer journeys, the popes used horse-drawn carriages.
The oldest recorded carriage, according to the Vatican Museums website, is the Grand Gala Berliner, built in 1826 for Pope Leo XII. This carriage was crowned by a canopy decorated with a dove, representing the Holy Spirit.
The Vatican Museums houses at least five more carriages in its Coach Pavilion, including the Pontifical Landau, which could be opened to allow the pope to greet the faithful during his tours. It was used by Leo XIII and Pius XI.
The great epochal change came in 1929 with Pius XI, the first pontiff to use an automobile.
When the Lateran Pacts were signed in the same year, giving rise to Vatican City State, the pope received a special gift – an American Graham-Paige 837. This unique vehicle had an interior seat that resembled the Holy Father’s throne, making it a historic and symbolic addition to the Vatican’s collection.
Years later, Pope Pius XII used the same car to personally travel to Rome’s San Lorenzo neighborhood after the American bombing of July 19, 1943, showcasing the significance and versatility of this iconic vehicle.
As the decades passed, papal vehicles underwent modernization. In 1975, Paul VI commissioned an open-top car for the jubilee celebrations to greet the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, marking a new era in papal transportation.
John Paul II popularized the term “popemobile” during his pontificate, using iconic vehicles like the Fiat Campagnola. This vehicle gained notoriety when the pope was shot during an assassination attempt in 1981, leading to the incorporation of bulletproof glass and enhanced security features in future designs.
Continuing this tradition, Pope Francis opted for open vehicles for most trips involving large crowds, eschewing armored cars for a closer connection with the faithful.
As his pontificate progressed, the promotion of electric cars became prominent, with both personal transportation and the Vatican’s fleet transitioning to more sustainable options.
