.jpg?p=120209_04:29)
.jpg?p=120209_04:31)
.jpg?p=120209_04:54)
.jpg?p=120209_04:35)
.jpg?p=111221_03:51)
The Pope gets given a lot of cars. A VW Phaeton W12, for one. And a customised Merc G-Class. And a Volvo XC90. And a BMW X5.
But what if he wants to transport six of his Popey friends in comfort? OK, technically they’d squeeze into the XC90, but it’d be a bit tight. Which is why Fiat has presented Benedict XVI (what is it with these Popes and their unpronounceable surnames?) with a Fiat Ducato van.
The van has arrived just in time for the Pope’s tour of Abruzzo, the region struck by an earthquake last month. It’s a plush van, for sure – the Ducato is fitted with five white leather seats in the rear in a lounge-style configuration, along with, says Fiat, ‘the most advanced systems for safety and low environmental impact’.
Of course, ownership of the Ducato does mean that the Pope has, technically, become… a white van man. Who’s up for scrawling, “If only my conscience was this clean” on the rear window?
White Van Pope
Fiat donates a bling Ducato to Benedict XVI. Subscription to red-top newspaper and England shirt to follow
Related
- Category:
- Car News
- Top moments of TG telly
- Our most-watched clips
- Hammond’s icons
- BMW M3 (E30)
- First drives
- Caterham 7 Supersport
- Merc C63 Black vs M3 GTS
- In this month’s TG mag
More from Top Gear
Advertisement
Get more Top Gear:
Advertisements
Best of TopGear
-
- First pics: the new BMW M6
- See more pics of the bombastic new BMW M6, complete with a 552bhp twin-turbo V8...
- Fare Game: cabbing in Tokyo
- What's it like to be a cabbie in a city where the streets have no name? We meet a master of the night...
- This is the best supercar dealership... in the world
- We meet the owner of Alain Class motors - and his £80m showroom
- Lexus GS 450h F-Sport driven
- Better than the old GS and a properly interesting choice. But for over £70k? You’d have to be barking
- The boys race an Aston V8 Vantage, BMW M6 and 911 part 1 (series 7, episode 1)
- The boys head to the Isle of Man with Aston Martin V8 Vantage, BMW M6 and a 911
TopGear Video
-
-
- James and Jeremy introduce series 18 of Top Gear! (series 18, episode 1)
- Frankly, no one thought we’d be going this long, least of all us. But somehow we are...
- Rating: 4 out of 5
-
- Behind the scenes with will.i.am (series 18, episode 1)
- We caught up with will.i.am while he practiced his lap times in our automatic cee-apostrophe-dee.
- Rating: 4 out of 5
-
- Behind the scenes: Andy's lucky pants update
- We do recommend that you finish your dinner before watching...
- Rating: 5 out of 5
-
-
-
- James and Jeremy introduce series 18 of Top Gear! (series 18, episode 1)
- Frankly, no one thought we’d be going this long, least of all us. But somehow we are...
- Rating: 4 out of 5
-
- The boys race an Aston V8 Vantage, BMW M6 and 911 part 1 (series 7, episode 1)
- The boys head to the Isle of Man with Aston Martin V8 Vantage, BMW M6 and a 911
- Rating: 4 out of 5
-
- Lamborghini Aventador (Series 17, Episode 6)
- Finally, the mighty Aventador hits the Top Gear test track, and Richard is only too happy to help.
- Rating: 4 out of 5
-
-
-
- Lamborghini Aventador (Series 17, Episode 6)
- Finally, the mighty Aventador hits the Top Gear test track, and Richard is only too happy to help.
- Rating: 4 out of 5
-
- The boys’ Botswana special part 1 (series 10, episode 4)
- The team find out whether a banger will get you all the way across Botswana
- Rating: 4 out of 5
-
- Jeremy tests the Ford Fiesta (series 12, episode 6)
- Jeremy’s most grown-up car test ever. With added guns and Corvettes…
- Rating: 4 out of 5
-
Advertisement Links
Advertisement
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
AshHorne commented on this article
at 02:26 pm on 06 May 2009
I can go one better than that - scrawling '666' on the doors and windows. Or 'herein lies Cereberus, the Devil's hound!'
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
tr226 commented on this article
at 03:09 pm on 06 May 2009
I'd stick with the 'I wish my conscience...' comment...best take on the dirty-windscreen I've heard in quite some time!
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Ben27 commented on this article
at 03:54 pm on 06 May 2009
So does this mean that white van men can say: "I drive one, HE drives one"? (HE being God)
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
Takk commented on this article
at 04:39 pm on 06 May 2009
Er... http://www.little-gamers.com/2009/05/04/shorter-bus-kid/ I can just see that happening...
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
AlKim commented on this article
at 06:32 pm on 06 May 2009
I like how "environmental pollution" is one of the seven revised deadly sins, and yet the Pope has all kinds of enormous cars.
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.