Two Italian-made e-vehicles were presented to Pope Leo XIV during a private meeting at the Pontifical Villas in Castel Gandolfo. Photo shows one of them parked at the Villas’ driveway. (Photo from the Vatican News)
Recognizing the necessity for mobility when Pope Leo XIV travels to do his evangelical work abroad, the Italian company Exelentia in collaboration with the Gendarmerie Corps of the Vatican City has donated two custom-built electric vehicles to assist the pope in his apostolic journeys in other countries.
Specifically developed by Exelentia, the compact vehicles are designed to be transported on long-haul flights without needing to be dismantled, making them efficient for the Pope’s future trips.
The news of the donation came in a press release issued by the Governatorate of Vatican City State, which explained that the donated vehicles are “the result of a fusion of engineering design and the high-level mechanical, electronic, manufacturing and artisanal expertise” involved in their development.
“They are, in fact, fully electric and emit neither noise nor pollutants,” the Vatican disclosed as it explained that both vehicles have been customised to meet the specific needs of the Pope.
“More specifically, the bodywork was customised with the addition of a front handle and lateral supports under the armrests to offer secure grips and improved comfort when boarding and exiting the vehicle,” it added
Accordingly, the Pope’s Gendarmerie Corps played a central role in supervising each phase of the development of the e-vehicles, aiming “at ensuring maximum efficiency, agility, and security”, especially given the vehicles’ intended use during international visits.
The government-owned Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) Airways, on which pope’s travel, also collaborated on the project by helping define the technical and dimensional requirements for air transport.