The Popemobile is a vehicle used to transport the pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, when he greets the public. The term broadly describes any specially designed vehicles by brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Fiat, Cadillac, and Jeep. The vehicle functions as a security measure and a platform to enchance the pope’s visibility in large crowds.
The Popemobile became popular in the late 1970s and 80s. The first official motorized papal vehicles were gifts to Pope Pius XI in 1929. Following an assassination attempt on John Paul II in 1981, Popemobiles were upgraded with bulletproof glass and armored plating.