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Hyundai Santa Fe


El Papa rode in the Hyundai Santa Fe in St. Peter’s Square in 2014.
Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images
El Papa has landed in the United States. On Pope Francis’ first visit to the U.S., he was greeted by Michelle Obama and her husband at the Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. after he disembarked from his plane, Shepherd One. To get around during his three-city trip, he’ll be riding in a Jeep Wrangler, far less flashy than some of the popemobiles of papas past, but definitely functional. In fact, according to The Washington Post‘s illustrated guide to the 215-year history of the popemobile, Francis has basically taken the papal whip game from fancy as fuh to soccer mom.
As we dive into the heart of Popemania (like people repurposing soccer chants for the pope), let’s take a look at the five practical cars that have served as the Popemobile before:
El Papa rode in the Hyundai Santa Fe in St. Peter’s Square in 2014.
The pope used a common form of transportation while in the Philippines, though his was only adorned by the papal seal.
In 2015, El Papa chose the Isuzu D-Max over a Volkswagen so that people could see him better during another trip to the Philippines.
Much like Mobama, Pope Francis knows how to show support for the country he is visiting. While visiting South Korea this year, he rode in two different Kias.
His U.S. ride is similar to the one he used earlier in the year when he visited Ecuador. The two sides are open because El Papa doesn’t like barriers between himself and people.