Thanks to Ed for pointing this article out to me!
Pope Francis has made no secret of his efforts to save money and reform the Vatican's finances and now he's found a new way to cut costs.
The Pontiff accepted a gift of a 20-year-old car and drove himself around St. Peter's Square.
The car was a gift from Father Renzo Zocca, who told Italian magazine Famiglia Cristiana he wanted to give the Pope a gift following his effort to create a church for the poor.
"What better than my old Renault 4?" he asked.
Vatican spokesman Rev. Ciro Benedettini said Francis accepted the 1984 Renault 4, and actually did his own driving.
The car, in spotless papal white, has 190,000 miles on its odometer and a manual gearbox.The BBC's David Willey in Rome said the Pope's bodyguards were amazed when he took the keys and drove off.
"The security personnel next to me were very concerned because they understood that he would be tooling around the Vatican in my car," Zocca told Famiglia Cristiana.
"I left some snow chains in the trunk. You never know," he added.
Pope Francis is known for his humble lifestyle and said he used to drive the same car back in his native Argentina.
He's been on a push to convince Vatican priests to save money by skipping expensive limousines.
For decades, popes have used the fortress-like Popemobile, which features a raised seat and panoramic, bullet-proof windows, for public trips outside Rome.
But Francis has already been parking the Popemobile in favor of simpler, open-topped cars.
What a refreshing read—Pope Francis choosing a 1984 Renault 4 really puts into perspective how simplicity can be a powerful message in today’s world of excess. It’s inspiring to see a leader practice what he preaches, especially in such a public way. As someone involved in the auto industry, stories like this make you appreciate the value in older vehicles and their personal significance. In the Cash For Cars Caboolture Area, we often come across people who still feel connected to their old cars, and this story really highlights why that bond matters.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post! It’s refreshing to see how even someone as influential as Pope Francis values simplicity and personal freedom through something as ordinary as driving. Stories like this remind me how important it is to find small moments of independence in our busy lives. Speaking of cars, if you ever need help with an old or damaged vehicle, there are great options like cash for broken cars Sydney services that make getting rid of unwanted cars easy and hassle-free.
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