Pope Leo XIV meets Mercedes-Benz executives to mark century of collaboration

Pope Leo XIV met with executives from Mercedes-Benz at the Vatican to commemorate the exhibition ‘A Century of the Popemobile’. The event marks nearly 100 years of partnership between the German automaker and the Holy See, a relationship that began in 1930 when Pope Pius XI received his first Mercedes-Benz.

The Pope described the evolution of the Popemobile, noting that it has transitioned from a mere mode of transport into an ‘instrument of encounter’ that allows the Pontiff to connect more closely with the faithful during pastoral visits and public celebrations.

During the meeting, Leo XIV expressed gratitude to the generations of designers and engineers responsible for this long-standing partnership. He also encouraged the company to continue using technological innovation to serve human dignity, the care of creation, and the common good, echoing previous calls for sustainable and accessible mobility.