The new Popemobile is a Focus: Francis rides Ford to his summer retreat

By Alvin Uy July 16,2013

Pope Francis chose an older-model Ford Focus as his popemobile

Early this week, the leader of the Catholic Church Pope Francis was reported to have arrived at the papal summer home, Castel Gandolfo riding in a Ford Focus, in contrast to his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI, who always travelled around in a BMW, Mercedes-Benz or a customized Renault.  Pope Francis didn’t spend the summer in the usual luxurious retreat of Castel Gandolfo, stating he preferred more modest accommodations. “It hurts me when I see a priest or nun with the latest-model car. You can’t do this. 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.” Said the Pope based on a report by the Huffington Post.

Considered as one of Italy’s most scenic towns, Castel Gandolfo is located 24 kilometers southeast of Rome in the Lazio region of Italy. It sits high upon the Alban Hills overlooking Lake Albano and has a population of approximately about 9,000 residents. This is where the summer residence and vacation retreat for the pope is located. While this papal palace is located within the borders of Castel Gandolfo, it has extraterritorial status as one of the properties of the Holy See and is therefore not under Italian jurisdiction. There is a thriving resort community which includes almost the whole coastline of Lake Albano that is surrounded by many summer residences, villas and cottages built as early as the 17th century.

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