Pope Leon XIV chooses petrol-powered Mercedes for €230,000 for Madrid visit. Pope Leon XIV will visit Spain for the first time in 15 years and travel around Madrid in a Mercedes G 500 with a powerful V8 engine, despite the presence of electric vehicles in his motorcade. The visit will cover Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.
A Mercedes G 500 worth around 230,000 euros will be the main vehicle for Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Madrid from June 6 to 8. Despite the presence of modern electric cars in the papal fleet, this gasoline-powered SUV with a powerful V8 has been chosen for getting around the capital — its emission level is equivalent to that of five hybrid vehicles combined.
The pontiff's visit, the first in the past fifteen years, will cover several cities: Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands. In Madrid, the Pope will meet with the royal family, conduct a mass at Plaza de Cibeles, communicate with young people, and address representatives of civil society. The route will then continue to Barcelona, where a service at the Sagrada Familia and a visit to the Montserrat monastery are scheduled for June 9 and 10. The trip will conclude on June 11–12 in the Canary Islands, focusing on migration issues and social support.
For travel across Spain, two Popemobiles and three electric cars were delivered from Rome. The Spanish Air Force handled transportation, with some vehicles unloaded in Barcelona, where the electric buggy and the Popemobile based on the Isuzu D-Max will remain. In Madrid, the Pope will use the Mercedes G 500 — a car that is not subject to low-emission zone restrictions, despite its significant fuel consumption and powerful 5-liter engine.
This Mercedes G 500 is not a new model, but an adapted version of the W463 generation, first used during the papacy of Benedict XVI. The rear seats have been removed to ensure safety and visibility for the pontiff. The vehicle is equipped with all-wheel drive and can carry up to five people, although in the papal version the cabin has been modified for the needs of the motorcade.
Interestingly, the Pope also has a fully electric Mercedes G580 with 587 hp and a range of up to 473 km, but for key events in Madrid and the Canary Islands, the petrol SUV has been chosen. According to RUSSPAIN, the electric version costs around €164,000 in Spain, making it noticeably less expensive than the petrol equivalent.
Pope Leo XIV's choice highlights the contradiction between official support for green technologies and real decisions for public events. At the same time, Mercedes continues to expand its SUV lineup: the company recently announced the compact Baby G model, which will come in both electric and petrol versions — read more about this in the article about the launch of the new Baby G.
The Pope's visit will end on June 12 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It is expected that attention to the pontiff's car fleet will again raise questions about the balance between tradition, image, and modern environmental standards.
