Vatican Exhibition Traces a Century of Mercedes-Benz Popemobiles

An exhibition at the Vatican is bringing together a century of Mercedes-Benz vehicles associated with successive popes, tracing changes in design, public visibility and security over nearly 100 years.

Titled A Century of the Popemobile, the exhibition includes vehicles ranging from the 1930 Nürburg 460 to a modified G 580 that became the Vatican’s first fully electric popemobile in 2024. The display is scheduled to remain open until 31 January 2027.

From luxury limousine to public-facing vehicles

The oldest vehicle in the exhibition is the Nürburg 460, which was presented to Pope Pius XI on 23 May 1930. Its interior included a luxurious armchair covered in raspberry-coloured silk brocade.

The collection also features a 300 d Landaulet built for Pope John XXIII in 1960. The vehicle was equipped with removable rear side windows, a design intended to make it easier for the pope to interact with crowds.

A 600 Pullman Landaulet introduced in 1965 is associated with Pope Paul VI. Its raised roof and folding soft top enabled the pontiff to stand and greet pilgrims while travelling in the vehicle.

The exhibition’s account of the vehicles shows how the design of papal transport developed to balance public contact with protection. Mercedes-Benz developed the 230 G for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Germany in 1980. That vehicle featured a tall transparent enclosure designed to shield the pope while keeping him visible to the public.

Later models and electric transition

More recent vehicles in the display include the ML 430 from 2002 and the ML 500 from 2012. Later models incorporated additional security measures, including thick bulletproof glass.

The newest vehicle highlighted is a modified G 580. It became the Vatican’s first fully electric popemobile in 2024, marking the latest stage in the development of the vehicles used for papal journeys.

Barbara Jatta, director of the Vatican Museums, said the exhibition aims to showcase a century of papal journeys. Although vehicles from other manufacturers have also been supplied to popes, this exhibition focuses exclusively on Mercedes-Benz models.

Through vehicles linked to Pius XI, John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul II, the exhibition presents the changing requirements placed on papal transport, from ceremonial comfort and interaction with crowds to enhanced protection and electric power.