Pope Francis gets behind the wheel

September 12, 2013 12:00 AM

For decades, the pope has made his way around the world with the help of his trusty "Popemobile." Although that iconic vehicle won't be leaving the papal garage anytime soon, the church leader has acquired a new ride that may be spotted zipping around Vatican City in the near future. Pope Francis was given a 1984 Renault 4 by a fellow priest, and he intends on using the vehicle to drive around Vatican City. 

"I think the pope will drive it a bit himself inside the Vatican," said Father Ciro Benedettini, the deputy spokesman for the Holy See, as quoted by The Guardian. 

The pontiff received the car from 70-year-old Father Renzo Zocca, a priest from northern Italy who used the Renault primarily to visit parishioners and has accumulated about 186,000 miles in the vehicle. He was inspired to give the automobile as a symbolic gift by one of the pope's speeches, and Pope Francis was only too pleased to accept. The papal leader previously drove a Renault when in his native country of Argentina. 

While the 1984 Renault 4 may need some light vehicle maintenance, it likely won't need too much car repair serving just the Vatican. If conditions get tough, however, the car does have its snow tires safely stored in the trunk. 

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