AP photo
Pope Francis is seen here accepting the keys to his latest Popemobile, if not exactly the newest one (a Mercedes M-Class based bubble-top). Father Renzo Rocca, an Italian priest, is seen here after he handed him the keys to his own 1984 R4 that he used to visit parishioners in, and has 186,000 miles on the clock. Why the R4? Francis used to drive one back in Argentina.
The Pope has taken to hopping into his suitably white-painted R4 and driving it around the Vatican, to the consternation of his security guards. And how did I find out about the Pope’s new CC? MSN.autos linked back to David Saunder’s CC on the R4 in their article.
It’s good to see the Pope is still flexing his driving muscles. This also is a partial answer to an old question of mine: Does the Pope / President / Prime Minister still drive after attaining their position?
This Renault must also be quite durable to look this decent at this age and mileage, especially if it’s been around Rome, where I’ve heard driving is an art unto itself.
The impression I get from looking at various pictures is that this R4 was treated to a restoration, or at least a good freshening, as well as a new paint job before it was given to Francis.
From what I read, the local parishioners cleaned it up, and then it was towed to the Vatican. The local church sent an entourage of people along with it, who got a chance to see the Pope up close.
I don’t think that the parish priest knew that the Pope had experience with an R4 until the car had already been donated. This new pope has really been extolling the message of the simple life, with a lot of focus placed on cars that he deems to be too extravagant.
Speaking of focus, a Ford Focus is what he reportedly uses as his daily driver.
I don’t know about driving, I think it is kind of a security issue once they become Pope…kind of like our President, who I’m sure is capable of driving but might be more of a target in a civilian vehicle. Maybe though he’s trying to be as modest as possible, but I’m sure his security detail would have some pause.
I remember hearing the previous Pope (Benedict XVI) sold his “regular” car (guess the one he had as a Cardinal) back around 2005 when he succeeded John Paul II. I think it was an A4 VW Golf, and though it is undoubtedly a very common vehicle (especially in Germany), I remember getting a bit of a kick hearing that since that’s what I was driving at the time, and still drive (not that I have anything else in common that I know of with the Pope emeritus).
Most Popes had simple little cars before they became Pontiff, John Paul II had a 70’s Ford Fiesta or Escort when he was a cardinal.
As for Presidents, I don’t know if the current Pres drives himself, but W used to tool all over his ranch in Texas in an F350, with all different world leaders too. I think the Queen will still drive around a Range Rover or 2 every once in a while too.
Lyndon Johnson used to drive around his ranch in his 1964 Lincoln Continental. When his scotch and soda ran dry he would stick his foam cup out the window and the Secret Service detail would run over and give him a refill.
Yep, LBJ had a ton of cars, he had an Amphicar believe it or not, he would run it out into the middle of lakes on the Johnson ranch. I think he had a couple of Mini Mokes, and a Fiat 500 Jolly. He gave one of his daughters a black Sting Ray convertible for her birthday.
I know Obama had a Chrysler 300 and a WK (99-03) Grand Cherokee before moving on up to the White House and his Tank-Limo.
FDR had an awesome 1937 Ford Phaeton 4 door convertible fitted with hand controls that he used at his Hyde Park estate. It also had a gizmo that would actually light a cigarette and flip it out to him.
He’s got a Renoleta!. Good on you pibe.
Paul, tell Dave Saunders that I congratulate him on having one of his articles linked in an aol.autos article.
It is definitely nice to be linked to but holy smoke do they link a lot!
Somewhere-maybe Jalopnik-I read that they overhauled the motor and gave the car a really good detailing before the delivery. The interior pictures-with the woven-lawn-chair fabric seats-looked pretty fresh. I just get a kick out of the idea of a pope who can drive a stick. Vive Il Papa!
Well I would expect it to be in tip top shape. being remembered by the Catholic World as the person that gave the Pope a car that broke down in the middle of Rome during rush hour is perhaps not the best way to be remembered.
Caption this picture:
“Of course the title is clean, would I lie?”
“The miles are low, it was only driven to church on Sundays…”
“Ehhh….I’m getting so sick of white….”
Congrats to David on this newfound fame. If EWTN is looking for an automotive correspondent, they could do a lot worse than to come here. 🙂
Now, I say we get busy and try to find Francis something befitting more formal occasions: I’m thinking an Argentine Kaiser.
What is EWTN?
The Etermal Word Television Network, a Catholic cable network that has a Vatican correspondent.