Pope’s car shows commitment to humility

The so-called People’s Pope continues to shatter perceptions of a detached leader presiding over 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide.

Now here’s a Pope who practices what he preaches.

When Pope Francis arrived at the papal summer home in Castel Gandolfo, he was in a humble Ford Focus which was a far cry from the luxury cars of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who travelled around town in vehicles that included a custom-made Renault, a BMW X5, and a Mercedes.

The down-to-earth Pope, according to the Huffington Post, has also called for greater austerity from religious figures, saying, “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.”

The Ford Focus is a compact car with a starting sticker price of just about $16,000 (about P720,000).

The so-called People’s Pope continues to shatter perceptions of a detached leader presiding over 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide. Adding to a growing list of moves casting him as a Pope of the people, the Pontiff’s choice to drive a used car underscores his humility at the helm. Rev. Renzo Zocca, a 69-year old priest from northern Italy has donated a vintage 1984 Renault 4 to Pope Francis, according to Vatican spokesman Rev. Ciro Benedettini. Pope Francis intends to use the four-door, manual-shift car to whip around Vatican grounds.

Huffington Post.com