Pope Francis to Use 3 Popemobiles During Visit

There will be three Popemobiles that Pope Francis will be using during his visit to the country this January 15 to 19, a chairman on the Papal visit committee on transportation said on Monday.

Bishop Ruperto C. Santos of the Diocese of Balanga, who also chairs the Committee on Transportation for the Papal Visit, said the Popemobiles were all done according to the specifications of the Vatican.

In a report over GMA News TV’s News TV Live, Santos said the vehicle’s design is in accordance with the specifications from the Vatican where the Pope can be visible for all. The Popemobiles are also accessible for the Holy Father to go down and meet people, he said.

Santos added that the design is simple which defines the nature of his holiness, simplicity and availability to all people, especially the simple and ordinary.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas confirmed that three Popemobiles will be used for the Holy Pontiff’s five-day visit, report said.

Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, during a briefing on Monday said that aside from two Popemobiles made here, the Kia Popemobile the Pope used during his visit to South Korea last year has been lent to the organizing committee.

He added that two of the vehicles will be used in Manila, where most of the events will happen and the other will be used in his trip to Tacloban City and Palo in Leyte.

Popemobiles

GMA News Online report said one Popemobile, a customized Isuzu D-Max, will reportedly be used on Jan.15 to welcome the Pope upon his arrival at the Villamor Air Base. It added that it will also be used for the papal events at Manila Cathedral and SM MOA Arena.

GMA News Online report said the Isuzu vehicle had been blessed last week and is now in an unspecified location.

A jeepney-inspired Popemobile, meanwhile, will be used for the Pope’s Mass at the Quirino Grandstand on January 18, GMA News Online report said.

Source: GMA News Online