The world was hit with tragedy as the Head of the Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. The Pope was well known for his humility in all his endeavours, especially in his choice of cars.
Unlike some dignitaries who visit the US being driven around in luxurious armored limousines, Pope Francis, on his first visit from the St. Andrews air base in Maryland to Washington D.C., chose to ride in a tiny Fiat 500L, even as the President was driven off from their meeting in his giant $1million armored car, The Beast.Â
The 78-year-old Roman Catholic leader was in the United States for the first time for a five-day tour across D.C., New York and Philadelphia, coinciding with the United Nations summit.
It was no accident that Pope Francis chose the little, modest Fiat 500L, which is only 11 feet 7 inches long and costs less than $20,000. It was in line with his views on climate change and the need for church leaders to shun extravagant displays of wealth in order to demonstrate their support for the underprivileged. As is already widely known, Pope even chose to drive an ancient Ford Focus instead of the Vatican’s Mercedes-Benz limousines for transportation across the city-state.
The Fiat 500L
The 500 L made its debut in 2012 as the latest model in the Fiat 500 series. It retained its vintage appearance while being based on the Fiat Punto. With plenty of inside space and enough for holiday luggage, it was perfect for a family. It was obviously not as attractive as the Fiat 500, but it was quite configurable, affordable, and offered a large selection of colors, various alloy wheels, and interior customizations.
Performance
The Fiat 500L has a 1.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine and front-wheel drive. All trim levels, with the exception of the top Lounge, have a six-speed manual transmission; the Pop trim has a six-speed automated-manual transmission; and the Easy, Trekking, and Urbana Trekking versions use a conventional six-speed automatic. When Edmunds evaluated the 500L, the manual transmission achieved a combined fuel economy of 28 mpg and the automatic transmission reached 60 mph in 9.3 seconds.
Safety
The Fiat 500L models come standard with antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, hill-hold assist, side airbags, and active head restraints. Optional features include a rearview camera and parking sensors. The 500L Lounge and Trekking require 120 feet to stop in simulated panic stops. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the 500L “Good” in moderate-overlap frontal-offset impact tests.
Driving
Compared to the 500 hatchback, which is smaller, the Fiat 500L is a tiny wagon that feels larger. Because of the upright windshield and huge side mirrors, the ride and handling are gentler, even on rougher roads and with wind noise. Additionally, the brake pedal is unresponsive. The 500L demands patience at highway speeds, while the turbocharged 1.4-liter engine performs admirably in the smaller 500. The Pop trim level is the only one with the automated-manual transmission, which responds slowly. For the remaining 500L trim levels, either a manual or standard automatic transmission is advised.
Interior
The car is a small crossover with big doors, a flat roofline, and high-mounted front seats. Despite being roomy and cozy, the front seats are rigid and devoid of power adjustment. A distinctive minivan-like openness is created by the huge glass section, however instead of two pillars, there are four. The dashboard features a cushioned upper dash and a dual-gauge instrument cluster, making it modern and spacious. Especially noteworthy is the 6.5-inch touchscreen that is an option. The 500L can carry up to 68 cubic feet of goods, which is comparable to larger small crossovers, and it offers plenty of interior space. However, non-flat rear-seat backrests and a high luggage lift-over height limit the car’s practicality.
Sales and Google searches for the model soared dramatically when the Pope chose the Fiat 500L, with the most common searches being in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, New York, and California. The particular Fiat vehicle that the Pope traveled in during his visit also generated notice. The car was put up for auction at the annual Philadelphia Auto Show Black Tie Tailgate. With the proceeds given to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and select Archdiocese ministries and missions. The auction also featured the second Fiat 500L used by Pope Francis in Philly.
A Washington Post article that examined the history of the Popemobile claimed that Pope Francis had rejected a fancy Mercedes Popemobile in favor of alternative adapted vehicles, such as Jeep, Toyota, Isuzu, Kia, Hyundai, and Land Rover models.
