Pope Benedict XVI to get New Wheels?

As for the Touareg, one brand-new specimen, pulled right off the 'glass house' assembly line, will be heavily reworked to

Volkswagen will join the ranks of GM, Fiat, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz, all manufacturers which have made vehicles for the Pope over the past two decades. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

include the glass 'pulpit' in which the Pope rides. While the front half of the VW will remain untouched, its mid-section will be constructed with a pickup-style bed where the Pope will ride. The rear doors are to be removed and sealed off, while the raised seating position is encapsulated in bulletproof glass, a mandatory feature since the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1982. The Popemobile will be finished in gloss white; fitting as it is a representation of purity.

With the construction of the Touareg Popemobile, Volkswagen will join the ranks of GM, Fiat, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz, all manufacturers which have made vehicles for the Pope over the past two decades. From the papacy's early beginnings, Popes have usually been presented with some of the finest vehicles on earth. Pope Pius XI favored Isotta Fraschini limousines, while his successor, Pius XII had several Cadillacs built, including one

Pope John Paul II's personal vehicle was a long-wheelbase Lancia sedan based on the Dialagos concept. (Photo: Lancia)

with an adjustable throne. Other world-class vehicles include the famed 1964 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible, a Chrysler Imperial, and a number of top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz limousines.

In comparison, Pope John Paul II took a different approach to the Popemobile. With the exception of his personal vehicle, a long-wheelbase Lancia sedan based on the Dialagos concept, his touring vehicles have primarily been white-coloured SUVs. When he visited Toronto for World Youth Days in 2002, he used a Mercedes-Benz G-Class and ML430, while on his first trip to England, his ride was the Land Rover Range Rover.