Artefact No.: : CSTM 1984.0197
Date : 1984

Source: Concacan Inc.

What is a ¨Popemobile¨?

It is a motorized vehicle used by the Pope for outdoor public visits at the Vatican or elsewhere in the world. Many versions exist, open-air or enclosed with glass.

This Popemobile is one of the two manufactured in Canada for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Canada in 1984. Surprisingly, they were made by a fire truck manufacturer, Camions Pierre Thibault Inc. The glass cabin allowed the Pope to greet the crowds while being protected by the bulletproof glass. He could also sit to rest.

According to a person in his entourage, the Pope liked the Canadian Popemobile so much that the second one was presented to him as a gift for the Vatican.