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Washington DC, Apr 16, 2008 / 07:05 am (CNA).- The most recognizable vehicle in Washington, D.C. this week will most likely be the, “Popemobile”. The term is affectionately applied to the protective glass enclosed Mercedes-Benz that takes the Holy Father from one event to another during his pastoral journeys.The Popemobile originated during the pontificate of John Paul II as a manner to provide the most visibility while maintaining safety for the Pope during his apostolic visits. The vehicle is encased with protective glass, which has a capability of protecting the Holy Father from any attempt to harm him physically with...

Where the Popemobile goes, the Pope follows. .... and the popemobile is on its way! While Pope Benedict XVI probably has not begun packing his bags for his April 15-20 trip to the United States, one big Vatican package was prepared just after Easter. The white, 2002 Mercedes-Benz popemobile has left the Vatican and will be delivered by an air cargo company in the first days of April, said Alberto Gasbarri, the chief organizer of papal trips. (CNS) The Vatican currently has three popemobiles. The specifications for the one the pope will use in America:A modified version of the...

*FLASH* Buried deep in the story, but it originates from a knowledgeable source: Susan Gibbs, communications director for the Washington, D.C., archdiocese, said there will be plenty of other chances to see the pope. She said Vatican officials this week agreed to take the "popemobile" out for a spin several times while the pontiff is in the nation’s capital, making papal sightings more possible for the crowds expected to line the streets. The routes have not yet been released, Gibbs said.This update reverses earlier reports that there would be no popemobile touring during the visit. Hoorah! My complete coverage...

Easter weekend saw the unveiling of Pope Benedict XVI's new and astonishing Popemobile. This one actually flies, and, being magic, leaves no carbon footprint. It is, in fact, a rug. Past builders of the always striking vehices, Starachowice of Poland and Mercedes-Benz of Germany, were surprised when they lost their contracts to a small family-owned Pakistani vendor Pazyryk Rugs Plus, which has been weaving "floor covering solutions" for two thousand years. They have recently received negative press in Pakistan for outsourcing their fringe-making to India. But Pope Benedict, an aficionado of textiles and tapestries, and a one-time decorator, was so...

Tax evasion charges were filed yesterday before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the makers of the bulletproof "Popemobile" used by Pope John Paul II during World Youth Day celebrations in Manila in January 1995. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) lodged the complaint against the two top officials of Italcar Pilipinas who are also owners of Francisco Motors Corp. (FMC), which assembled the vehicle, and the comptroller of Italcar. BIR Commissioner Guillermo Parayno Jr. said Italcar Pilipinas, a wholly owned subsidiary of FMC, is engaged in the importation and sale of motor vehicles. Charged were Fernando Francisco, managing director,...