Photos: New Mercedes-Benz Popemobile debuts

An early Christmas present from Mercedes-Benz to our beloved Pontiff:

Stuttgart/Rom -- Dec 05, 2007 -- In future, Pope Benedict XVI will present himself to the 40,000 or so pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square in a shining white, open-top Mercedes-Benz G-Class during his public audiences on Wednesdays. The new "Popemobile" was created over a two-year development period in close consultation with the Vatican, and has now been personally handed over to the Holy Father.

This open official car, which the Head of the Catholic Church requested for use during fine weather, was developed by Mercedes-Benz on the basis of the G 500. It is equipped with a folding windscreen and hand-rails, and like its predecessors it is painted in the Vaticanmystic white finish. The interior is likewise white, and is accessed via steps lined in red at the rear. The Pope holds his audiences in a standing position, so that he is easily visible to all his flock.

The Holy Father is continuing a long tradition with the new Popemobile from Mercedes-Benz. Pope Pius XI was the first to receive a Mercedes-Benz as an official car in 1930 - a Nürburg 460 Pullman limousine. Over the following decades Mercedes-Benz regularly provided the Vaticanwith automobiles which had been specially converted for the use of the Holy Father.

Today the Pope has several Mercedes-Benz cars at his disposal. In addition to the new G 500 Cabriolet, the fleet currently includes M and S-Class models with special protection. - Daimler

I'm wondering if a plexiglass top can be added for his U.S. visit, or if that's a different car entirely? (update from the comments:

"The Plexiglass Popemobile that he uses in international visits are in fact two: a main one and a second reserve unit. The model is an adapted Mercedes-Benz ML 430, WITH backseat for him and two more persons and air-conditioning inside the "cage" as well as a special lighting setting. The standard dictates that they will arrive about a week before His Holiness himself arrives in the US." - Rafael Cresci)

update: and just to prove the extent of the formidable AmericanPapist photo archives:

"Mercedes has long been a standby for the envied position of Popemobile manufacturer ever since Pope Pius XI rode in a Nurburg 460 Pullman limousine (pictured above) in 1930." - MotorTrend

Now I wonder if Mercedes-Benz would be up for donating a car to the AmericanPapist next....