Vatican Opens “A Century of the Popemobile” Exhibition: One Hundred Years of Mercedes-Benz Cars for the Popes

The Vatican Museums have presented an exhibition dedicated to the centenary of papal Mercedes-Benz cars — from the 1930 limousine for Pius XI to the first fully electric popemobile, the G 580 of 2024. The exhibition runs until January 31, 2027.

Otabek YusupovFirst published on tafs uz 30 October 2026 at 01:032 min read

The key facts

The “A Century of the Popemobile” exhibition has opened at the Vatican Museums and runs until January 31, 2027
The oldest exhibit is the Nürburg 460, presented to Pius XI on May 23, 1930
In 2024, the upgraded G 580 became the first fully electric popemobile

A Century of Papal Cars at the Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums have opened the exhibition “A Century of the Popemobile,” dedicated to one hundred years of Mercedes-Benz cars used by the popes of Rome. As reported by the Russian and English versions of Euronews, the exhibition brings together the vehicles of successive pontiffs — from the luxurious 1930 limousine to modern models designed to bring the pope closer to crowds of the faithful while also protecting him. Barbara Jatta, Director of the Vatican Museums, said the aim of the exhibition is to show a century of papal journeys. The exhibition will remain open until January 31, 2027.

From a Silk Throne to Bulletproof Glass

The exhibition vividly shows how the very concept of the papal car has changed. The oldest exhibit is the Nürburg 460, presented to Pope Pius XI on May 23, 1930: inside is a throne-like chair upholstered in crimson silk brocade. By 1960, the 300 d Landaulet, built for John XXIII, had removable rear side windows that made it easier to interact with people, and five years later the 600 Pullman Landaulet, with its raised roof and folding soft top, allowed Paul VI to greet pilgrims standing.

The Modern Popemobile and the Electric Era

The popemobile took its familiar modern form in 1980, when Mercedes-Benz developed the 230 G model for John Paul II’s visit to Germany: a tall transparent superstructure protected the pontiff while keeping him visible to the public. Later models — the ML 430 of 2002 and the ML 500 of 2012 — are equipped with security systems such as thick bulletproof glass. The Vatican’s ties with the brand continued into the electric era: in 2024 the upgraded G 580 became the first fully electric popemobile. Although other manufacturers have also supplied cars to the pontiffs, the exhibition is devoted exclusively to Mercedes-Benz.