Bergoglio has always given up luxury cars and wanted to lower the window to be able to greet people. The last farewell at Easter
Close to the people, away from any form of performance, transforming the use of the car into a strong message of great simplicity. Perhaps of no pope like Jorge Mario Bergogliodied on April 21, 2025, his public releases will remain impressed on the streets of Rome and the world. A few days after his settlement, on March 13, 2013, the turning point immediately arrives. Flag Volkswagen Phaeton 3.0 V6 TDI used by the Vatican gendarmerie is abandoned immediately, because the pontiff’s gaze falls on a very common Ford Focus Second series of 2006 originally assigned to the General Services of the Vatican. He chose her, asked to adapt it to the safety standards, but leaving it free over the years to lower the rear window, protrude his hand and greet incredulous passers -by and motorists up close. Going everywhere, from pastoral visits to the strictly institutional ones to the Quirinale. That of one Blue focus with the passenger in white It is the image that will remain, the photograph of the privileges that Jorge Mario Bergoglio has always claimed to give up. On the other hand, in the 2015 encyclical Laudato yeson the care of the common house, the pontiff invites to “use public transport or share the same vehicle between various people”.
Love for Renault 4
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In 1969 he became a priest and in 1973 he was appointed provincial Jesuits of Argentina. Between 1980 and 1986 he was rector of the college of San Giuseppe, as well as parish priest in San Miguel. Travel through Argentina, in Buenos Aires he became archbishop in 1998, but in the meantime he teaches and guides his Renault 4 staff. In 2013 he will receive an identical one as a gift from Don Renzo Zocca, parish priest of Santa Lucia di Pescantina. Bergoglio immediately invites him on board, for a tour through the (almost) desert roads that cross the Vatican gardens, behind the Basilica. Pope Francis on the passenger seat does not admit replicas, the security services go into crisis, but Bergoglio returns young and smiles: his Renault 4 had never left him on foot.
among the people
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Over the years the Apostolic trips on all continentsand Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been going through the crowds with the papmobile, a off -road vehicle that has been made for over 45 years taking a basis one Mercedes G -Classthe last of which delivered last December and complete electrical traction. But there have never been missed surprises, always in the sign of discretion. He remembers his trip to the United States well in 2015 and the arrival Washington, guest of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle, aboard one Fiat 500 lmicroscopic for American standards. But it is not the first time with a small minivan. In 2013, it surprises Brazil, lands in Rio and climbs on one Fiat Idea. Cameras around the world resume the journey towards the central district of Laranjeiras, which becomes a succession forced stops in traffic. “His people” finds himself a few centimeters from the Pope, celebrates, is moved by simplicity.
Luxury at the auction
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Pope Francis is a guest, from time to time, of every type of car. Travel in Land Rover but also in Kia In his visit to Korea, even if he is a very simple pick up Isuzu D-Max who accompanies him in the Philippines, in Fatima and Lourdes. Two yellow flags of the Vatican mounted at the height of the front fenders, and then no representative coat of arms on the sides. “His church” travels in absolute white and with simple means, such as Dacia Duster adapted to Papamobile who was given to the Pope by the Renault group in 2019. When there was no simplicity, a usefulness arrived. In 2017 Lamborghini gave a pontiff a Huracan LP580-2 Made in single specimen, in white with yellow stripes in homage to the colors of the Vatican city. A year after the car autographed by Bergoglio was auctioned by Sotheby’s and awarded for the figure of 715 thousand eurosfour times its value, allocating the figure in charity. Same fate for the Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom donated to Bergoglio in 2014, which has become a check from 250 thousand euros For Caritas. Transforming once again the performance in a message of simplicity.
Holy Thursday on the 500L
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A moving pontiff, up to the last moment. Only Holy Thursday Pope Francis went to the Roman prison of Regina Coeli, coming on board with the message of humility that has always accompanied his movements aboard the white Fiat 500L. A meeting with prisoners showing closeness and bringing hope.
The last hug at Easter
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Sunday 20 April, the feast of the Holy Easter, with a mass celebrated at 10.30 am in St. Peter’s Square and the subsequent blessing Urbi et orbi, in Rome and the world.
Pope Francis, in a last hug, took to the streets aboard the Papamobile, a last meeting with the faithful who extended to via della Conciliazione and who will inevitably remain in history.
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