Pope Francis said this week that he plans to drive in a 1984 Renault 4 around Vatican City instead of being driven around in a "popemobile."
The vehicle has 190,000 miles on it already and was a gift from an Italian priest who used the vehicle to visit poor parishioners, according to Famiglia Cristiana.
Rev. Renzo Zocco from Verona sent Francis fan mail earlier this year, and offered him the car. Francis called Zocco in August, and was reluctant to accept the vehicle at first after thinking it should be given to the poor.
Zocco "reassured" Francis that the vehicle would "serve as a testimony" to the effort and hard work the priest has done in Verona, according to Famiglia Cristiana.
The white Renault has been equipped with a new 800 cc. 30-hp engine and uses a French stick shift that folds from the dashboard, according to ABC News.
Francis has encouraged Catholic priests and nuns to avoid expensive cars and limousines to set an example and to keep humble.
"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," Francis said in a press statement.
Francis previous drove a Renault when he was Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, according to ABC News.
People have been are concerned about Francis driving the used vehicle however, as he would be more protected by using a popemobile.
"The security personnel next to me were very concerned because they understood that from now on he would be tooling around the Vatican in my car," Zocca said. "I left some snow chains in the trunk. You never know."
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