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Vatican Unveils “A Century of the Popemobile” Exhibition

By Drooid · · How we work

In this breakdown

01

Core Event

The Vatican Museums opened a temporary exhibition titled “A Century of the Popemobile” showcasing papal transportation from the first papal automobile in 1930 to contemporary models. The preview opened on October 28 2026, with the public opening reported on October 29. The exhibition runs through January 31 2027. Eight Mercedes-Benz vehicles used by successive popes are on display, bookended by an 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen and a modern Mercedes S-Class.

Road & Track

02

Background & Context

Papacy travel shifted after the 1929 Lateran Pacts, which restored the Holy See’s sovereignty and allowed popes to leave Vatican City. Mercedes-Benz became the primary supplier, beginning with a specially built Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460 delivered to Pope Pius XI on May 23 1930. Over the decades the popemobile has been adapted for safety, visibility and ecological priorities.

Road & TrackThe popemobile race: How car companies rallied to serve a papal passenger A popemobile exhibition at the Vatican features the vehicle popes have used since 1930 Jalopnik

Visual evidence

Images from the story

The first official papal motorized vehicle, a 1930 Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460
The first official papal motorized vehicle, a 1930 Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460Photo: jalopnik
Pope Leo XIV rides his Mercedes G580 Popemobile home to the Vatican from the hospital on October 21, 2026
Pope Leo XIV rides his Mercedes G580 Popemobile home to the Vatican from the hospital on October 21, 2026Photo: jalopnik
The 1980 Fiat Nuova Campagnola, the popemobile in which Pope John Paul II was shot during an assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square May 13, 1981, is displayed at the Vatican Museums Oct. 28, 2026. (CNS
The 1980 Fiat Nuova Campagnola, the popemobile in which Pope John Paul II was shot during an assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square May 13, 1981, is displayed at the Vatican Museums Oct. 28, 2026. (CNSPhoto: osvnews
A 1930 Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460, the first car regularly used by a pope, is displayed during the inauguration of the exhibition “A Century of Popemobiles” at the Vatican Museums Oct. 28, 2026. The limousine, specially tailored for Pope Pius XI, marked the beginning of a nearly century-long relationship between Mercedes-Benz and the Vatican. (CNS
A 1930 Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460, the first car regularly used by a pope, is displayed during the inauguration of the exhibition “A Century of Popemobiles” at the Vatican Museums Oct. 28, 2026. The limousine, specially tailored for Pope Pius XI, marked the beginning of a nearly century-long relationship between Mercedes-Benz and the Vatican. (CNSPhoto: osvnews
Sleek, modern car with a copper finish parked on a road against a lush green landscape.
Sleek, modern car with a copper finish parked on a road against a lush green landscape.Photo: roadandtrack

03

Timeline

Swipe across the table to see all columns.

Timeline
DateEvent
May 23 1930Pope Pius XI receives the Mercedes-Benz Nürburg 460 limousine.
1960Pope John XXIII receives a Mercedes-Benz 300 d Landaulet with removable rear windows.
1980Mercedes-Benz creates the 230 G for Pope John Paul II, featuring a tall transparent dome.
May 13 1981Pope John Paul II is shot from a Fiat Campagnola popemobile; designs shift to bullet-proof.
1997Introduction of the S500 Landaulet model.
2002Deployment of a modified M-Class SUV popemobile.
2012Further M-Class adaptation for Pope Francis.
2025Mercedes-Benz presents an all-electric popemobile to Pope Francis.
October 28 2026Exhibition preview opens.
October 29 2026Public opening (reported by one source).
January 31 2027Scheduled closing.
A popemobile exhibition at the Vatican features the vehicle popes have used since 1930 The popemobile race: How car companies rallied to serve a papal passenger Road & TrackJalopnik

04

Data & Statistics

  • Eight Mercedes-Benz vehicles are displayed, spanning models from 1930 to the present.
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  • The exhibit also includes two non-Mercedes bookends: the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen and a current Mercedes S-Class.
Road & Track
  • Highlighted models: 1930 Nürburg 460, 1960 300 d Landaulet, 1980 230 G, 1997 S500 Landaulet, 2002 and 2012 M-Class SUVs, and the 2025 electric popemobile.
Road & Track

05

Official Statements & Responses

Pope Leo XIV met with senior Mercedes-Benz executives during the launch, noting that advances in automotive technology have paralleled papal travel and that the popemobile now serves as “an instrument of encounter.”

A popemobile exhibition at the Vatican features the vehicle popes have used since 1930

Sandro Barbagallo, curator of the Historical Collections Department at the Vatican Museums, described the 1930 Nürburg 460 as a transition from a standard model to a uniquely tailored papal car, designed for visibility and comfort.

A popemobile exhibition at the Vatican features the vehicle popes have used since 1930

06

Conflicting Reports & Gaps

Sources differ on the exact public opening date: one report cites a preview on October 28 2026 with the exhibition opening the next day, October 29, while another lists the opening as occurring on October 28. No additional details clarify which date marks the first day of public access.

The popemobile race: How car companies rallied to serve a papal passenger

07

Why It Matters

The exhibition shows how papal transportation has mirrored broader technological and societal shifts, from early limousines to bullet-proof designs and, most recently, electric vehicles aligned with ecological concerns. By highlighting the long-standing partnership between the Vatican and Mercedes-Benz, the display underscores the role of automotive innovation in facilitating the Church’s outreach and public presence.

The popemobile race: How car companies rallied to serve a papal passenger
Vatican Unveils “A Century of the Popemobile” Exhibition | Full Breakdown | Drooid