The popemobile is a specially designed motor vehicle used by the pope of the Catholic Church during public appearances. It is considered a successor to the sedia gestatoria and was designed to allow the pope to be more visible when greeting large crowds. Despite Pope Francis' disdain for the name, "the popemobile" is still largely used.
Pope Francis in a Jeep JK-8 popemobile in Washington, D.C., in September 2015.
The Fiat Campagnola popemobile in which Pope John Paul II was the subject of an assassination attempt in May 1981.
One of the two popemobiles coachbuilt on Leyland Constructor chassis for Pope John Paul II's visit to the United Kingdom in May/June 1982.
SEAT Panda popemobile used by John Paul II during his visit to Spain in October/November 1982.
Attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II
On 13 May 1981, in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Pope John Paul II was shot and wounded by Mehmet Ali Ağca while he was entering the square. The Pope was struck twice and suffered severe blood loss. Ağca was apprehended immediately and later sentenced to life in prison by an Italian court. The Pope forgave Ağca for the assassination attempt. He was pardoned by Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi at the Pope's request and was deported to Turkey in June 2000. Ağca converted to Roman Catholicism in 2007.
The Pope photographed moments after being shot by Ali Ağca in St. Peter's Square on 13 May 1981
The site of the shooting is marked by a small marble tablet bearing John Paul II's personal coat of arms and the date in Roman numerals.
The Fiat Popemobile in which Pope John Paul II was riding at the time of the attempted assassination. This vehicle is now in the Vatican Museums.
