“The ‘Glass Sardine Can’ Blocks Me Off From People” : Pope Francis Initially Ditched Glass-sided Popemobile

Pope Francis initially ditched the armored, glass-sided popemobile, saying that the glass “sardine can” blocks him off from people.

After ditching his Popemobile, Pope Francis relied in humbler cars, like the Fiat 500L and Toyota Innova Zenix Minivan.

But since 2019, he had been spotted in his armored, glass-sided Popemobile, amid rising cases of insecurity around the world.

In December 2024, Mercedes-Benz presented the first-ever electric “Popemobile” to the 88 year old pontiff. 

For most part of his 13 year reign, Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio) ditched his famous popemobile, saying that the glass-sided truck is a glass “sardine can” that walls him off from people, despite the dangers of an assassination attempt.

“It’s true that anything could happen, but let’s face it, at my age I don’t have much to lose,” Francis told Barcelona newspaper La Vanguardia in an interview, which was reported on in English by Vatican Radio.

• See Also : “The Last Ride”: Pope Francis Rode In The Electric G-Class-based “Popemobile” On Easter Sunday

Priest gives Pope Francis his 20-year-old Renault 4

Speaking further on his refusal to use the famous armored Popemobile, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State noted that “i know that something could happen to me, but it’s in the hands of God”.

Since ditching the glass-sided G Popemobile in 2014, Pope Francis relied on humbler cars like the Renault 4 and Toyota Innova Zenix Minivan, the latter fitted with the special SCV1 number plate.

Toyota Innova Zenix Minivan

Electric G-Class-based Popemobile

But since 2019, Pope Francis had been spotted in the famous glass-sided, armored Mercedes-Benz G-Class-based Popemobile that he inherited from his predecessor, amid rising cases of insecurity around the world.

In December 2024, Mercedes-Benz presented the first-ever electric “Popemobile” to the pontiff, who will later make his final public appearance on Easter Sunday while been chauffeur-driven in the fully electric Mercedes.

• See Also : When Lamborghini Gifted To Pope Francis Sold For $862,000 – With All Proceeds Donated To Charity