Pope Francis has introduced the wide public to his new vehicle: a Nissan NP300 pickup truck, also known as Navara in some countries.
The model has been in production since 1997 without any major changes.
Summus Pontifex’s vehicle sports an added cage with railings, a chair in the truck bed, and a see-through cover that should provide limited weather protection. It is reported that customizing the car to meet Vatican’s demands took three months.
Catholic Church Popes used a bespoke Lincoln Continental as their transportation means in the mid-20th century, but later on switched to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and ultimately the M-Class. This is the first time a Pope has been seen riding a Japanese car.