When most folks imagine the Pope on the road, they picture the head of the Catholic Church perched high in the back of his “Popemobile.” But that’s just his parade vehicle. The late Pope Francis was given multiple cars, and the “People’s Pope” even had an old Renault 4 he drove around Vatican City. We’ll just have to wait and see what Pope Leo XIV—Francis’ successor—chooses to drive.

A humble ride for the Holy Father

The Pope is often gifted Popemobiles by foreign countries that he keeps there and uses when he parades there. Pope Francis had a Kia Soul in South Korea, a Jeep Wrangler in the U.S., and a Ram 1500 in Mexico.

The Pope can also own a personal car—or at least, he did. Pope Francis, known for his modest lifestyle, drove a 1984 Renault 4 with 186,000 miles on it. The car was a gift from Father Renzo Zocca, who wanted to honor the pope’s dedication to the poor.

Upon receiving the car, Pope Francis didn’t just admire it—he took it for a spin around Vatican City. “The security personnel next to me were very concerned because they understood that from now on he would be tooling around the Vatican in my car,” Zocca recalled.

This wasn’t just a joyride. The pope’s choice of vehicle sent a message. He once said, “It hurts me when I see a priest or a nun with the latest model car.”

From Popemobile to mobile clinic

While the Renault 4 was his personal ride, Pope Francis also used the iconic Popemobile for public appearances. But even this vehicle had a second life. Before his death in April 2025, the pope donated one of his Popemobiles to be converted into a mobile health clinic for children in Gaza.

The vehicle, originally used during his 2014 visit to the Holy Land, is being outfitted with medical equipment to serve communities lacking access to healthcare. Peter Brune of Caritas Sweden stated, “With the vehicle, we will be able to reach children who today have no access to health care—children who are injured and malnourished.”

This act reflected Pope Francis’s enduring commitment to the vulnerable and his desire to use even his vehicles for the greater good. From cruising Vatican City in a beat-up Renault to transforming the Popemobile into a lifeline for Gaza’s children, Pope Francis showed that even the pope’s car can be a vehicle for change.

A supercar for super causes

In 2017, Pope Francis received a custom Lamborghini Huracán, painted in Vatican white and gold. Instead of keeping the $950,000 supercar, he auctioned it off, donating the proceeds to charities supporting Iraqi Christians, victims of human trafficking, and medical missions in Africa. This decision underscored his commitment to humility and service over personal indulgence. 

Pope Francis’s approach to transportation mirrored his broader philosophy: simplicity, service, and solidarity. Whether driving a humble Renault or repurposing a Popemobile for humanitarian aid, he demonstrated that even the pope’s car can be a vehicle for change. Will Pope Leo XIV choose as iconic a vehicle? Perhaps the Chicago-born Pope will even select a Popemobile from Detroit.