The Pope is blessed with a new vehicle from Toyota

The Popemobile is hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai. Photos: Toyota

Look out Vatican City, there’s a new Popemobile on the ancients streets and it’s leading the way when it comes to alternative fuels.

His Holiness Pope Francis received as a gift from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan (CBCJ), a hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai adapted for his mobility needs.

The car is one of two Toyota Mirai vehicles specially made by Toyota and donated to the CBCJ for the Holy Father’s mobility needs on the papal visit to Japan in November last year.

His Holiness Pope Francis was gifted with the car at Vatican City.

The Popemobile was present to Pope Francis by Rev. Father Domenico Makoto Wada (representing the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan) and His Excellency Seiji Okada (Ambassador of Japan to the Holy See) at Vatican City.

The Popemobile has a length of 5.1 metres and a height (including the roof) of 2.7 metres, allowing the Pope to stand and be visible to people. The Mirai (named after a word that in Japanese means ‘future’) is the first mass-produced hydrogen powered sedan and was launched in 2014.

It is the ultimate zero-emissions car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell system, enabling a range of around 500km while emitting only water.

Pope Francis has a deep interest in global environmental matters, which he shared in his encyclical Laudato si’ in 2015.

The Popemobile has been especially adapted for him after his visit to Japan.