The Catholic World News website published an interesting story about Volkwagen's President giving the keys to a new sedan to the Pontiff. The story comes from yesterday's new broadcast. It is an interesting aspect of life in Vatican City ... especially all those cars. And, yes, the Pope does have a "vanity plate" as we would call it. CWN provides an excellent website for Church news. I hope to have the link provided shortly.
Oct. 18 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) is the owner of a new Volkswagen Phaeton, courtesy of the German auto maker.
Volkswagen's President Bernd Pischestsrieder met with the Pontiff on October 18, and gave him the keys to the black luxury sedan-- specially equipped with tinted glass and curtans on the windows. The German company said that the car is ideally suited for "comfort, discretion, and security."
Major automotive firms frequently offer vehicles to the Roman Pontiff, capitalizing on the donations for publicity. Since his election, Pope Benedict has been offered cars by Audi, Mercedes, and BMW as well as Volkswagen. In fact, the Pope and other ranking Vatican officials are ordinarily use older Mercedes models, or an Italian Lancia, for trips around Rome. The other vehicles donated to the Pope are used by other Church officials.
The first car was donated to the Holy See in 1909, but automobiles were not used by the Holy See for some years thereafter. In 1929, after the Lateran Accords established the independent status of the Vatican, the Italian firm Fiat offered Pope Pius XI a car, using the gesture to underline an invitation for the Pontiff to visit the territory of Rome and Italy. Dozens of other vehicles have been donated over the years, and the Vatican now displays some of them in an automotive museum that includes noteworthy cars from Fiat, Bianchi, Graham-Page, and Citroen.
Shortly after Pope Benedict's election in April 2005, a Volkswagen "Golf" that had been registered in the name of Joseph Ratzinger was offered for sale by a young German. It was purchased by an American casino owner for €190,000 (about $239,000). But although that vehicle was registered in the name of the future Pontiff, it was apparently used by his former secretary, Bishop Josef Clemens. Pope Benedict, it seems, does not have a driver's license.
Volkswagen's President Bernd Pischestsrieder met with the Pontiff on October 18, and gave him the keys to the black luxury sedan-- specially equipped with tinted glass and curtans on the windows. The German company said that the car is ideally suited for "comfort, discretion, and security."
Major automotive firms frequently offer vehicles to the Roman Pontiff, capitalizing on the donations for publicity. Since his election, Pope Benedict has been offered cars by Audi, Mercedes, and BMW as well as Volkswagen. In fact, the Pope and other ranking Vatican officials are ordinarily use older Mercedes models, or an Italian Lancia, for trips around Rome. The other vehicles donated to the Pope are used by other Church officials.
The first car was donated to the Holy See in 1909, but automobiles were not used by the Holy See for some years thereafter. In 1929, after the Lateran Accords established the independent status of the Vatican, the Italian firm Fiat offered Pope Pius XI a car, using the gesture to underline an invitation for the Pontiff to visit the territory of Rome and Italy. Dozens of other vehicles have been donated over the years, and the Vatican now displays some of them in an automotive museum that includes noteworthy cars from Fiat, Bianchi, Graham-Page, and Citroen.
Shortly after Pope Benedict's election in April 2005, a Volkswagen "Golf" that had been registered in the name of Joseph Ratzinger was offered for sale by a young German. It was purchased by an American casino owner for €190,000 (about $239,000). But although that vehicle was registered in the name of the future Pontiff, it was apparently used by his former secretary, Bishop Josef Clemens. Pope Benedict, it seems, does not have a driver's license.
