Pope Francis prefers not to use bulletproof Popemobile

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis arrives on a car driven by King Abdullah II of Jordan as he visits Bethany beyond the Jordan river, the site of Christ’s baptism, west of Amman, Jordan, Saturday, May 24, 2014. AP File Photo

Pope Francis has said that he prefers not to use the customary bulletproof Popemobile when he tours or visits his congregation. He calls it a glass “sardine can” which serves as a wall between him and the people. In a newspaper interview transcript released by the Vatican Radio, the notably humble Pope said that despite possible threats to his life, he would prefer not to use this type of transportation.

“It’s true that anything could happen, but let’s face it, at my age I don’t have much to lose,” he said.

Past Popemobiles include Mercedes-Benz Pullman limousines, M and G-Class SUVs modified to carry the glass-enclosed standing platform for the Pontiff, a Fiat truck, and a Range Rover.

Pope Francis has avoided using luxury transportation, opting instead to use a previous-generation Ford Focus in Rome, and a Fiat hatchback in Brazil. The Pope has also said, “It hurts me when I see a priest or nun with the latest-model car. A car is necessary to do a lot of work, but, please, choose a more humble one. If you like the fancy one, just think about how many children are dying of hunger in the world.”

Pope Francis said serving as a pastor is most important dimension of his vocation.