Vatican Museums Display Eight Popemobiles Until 28 January 2027

The Vatican Museums opened a new exhibition, A Century of the Popemobile, on 29 October 2026. It brings together eight historic Mercedes-Benz vehicles tracing papal transport from the first car supplied to Pope Pius XI in 1930, and is listed by the museums until 28 January 2027.

Key facts

• Opened 29 October 2026, listed until 28 January 2027
• Eight historic Mercedes-Benz vehicles plus a contemporary S-Class
• Venue: glass pavilion in the Giardino Quadrato, near the Carriage Pavilion and the Pinacoteca
• Official visitor address: Viale Vaticano, 00165 Rome, Vatican City
• Vehicles cover papal motoring from 1930 to modern Popemobiles

What is on display?

The exhibition follows the relationship between Mercedes-Benz and the Holy See across nearly a century. Its vehicles range from formal limousines to later Popemobiles designed to give the pope closer contact with crowds during public appearances. A contemporary S-Class is shown alongside the historic cars, creating a sequence from early papal vehicles to modern designs.

Mercedes-Benz supplied the first car to Pope Pius XI in 1930. Later vehicles were adapted for ceremonies, travel and public appearances, while newer models reflect changes in engineering and the way popes meet the faithful. Vatican News described the Popemobile as a vehicle shaped by the pastoral purpose of bringing the pope closer to people during public events.

Where is the exhibition?

The display sits in a glass pavilion in the Giardino Quadrato, close to the Carriage Pavilion and the Vatican Pinacoteca. The official visitor address for the museums is Viale Vaticano, 00165 Rome, in Vatican City.

The location extends an existing museum subject: the Carriage Pavilion, commissioned by Pope Paul VI in 1973 and fully renovated from 2013 according to the Department of Historical Collections, already presents historical evidence of papal mobility. The new pavilion places the eight cars beside that setting rather than separating transport history from the wider museum route.

What this means for travellers

Visitors to the Vatican Museums during the exhibition period have an additional display to see alongside the museums' established art, archaeology and ethnology collections. The exhibition opened to the public after a preview and inauguration connected with the Vatican's partnership with the German manufacturer.

Vatican City is outside the European Union, and entry requirements depend on your nationality. The source does not state ticket prices, opening hours or whether a separate booking is needed for the exhibition.

The museums' official programme lists the exhibition running until 28 January 2027.