From July 22 to 28, Rio de Janeiro will host one of the largest Catholic events in the world: World Youth Day. During this time, millions will participate in activities related to one of the world's leading Christian religions. And among the highlights of the Day is the presence of Pope Francis I, who comes to Brazil for the first time as pontiff.

And when we talk about public appearances of the Pope, we soon remember the famous “popmobiles”, the cars specially prepared to transport and ensure his safety. But how are these vehicles? How important are they and when did they start being used? Let's find out the answers to these questions right here in Tecmundo.

Gestational seat: before all four wheels

The Catholic Church is almost 2, 000 years old and the first Pope (St. Peter) dates from the same time. At that time - and until just under a century ago - there were no cars, so the Pope could not be transported in a Popemobile. But the walk would not be viable, as the Pope needed to be seen when passing through large crowds.

Image source: Reproduction / Wikimedia Commons

Therefore, the gestational seat was created, which would be a kind of papal litter. It is a structure equipped with a throne and spaces for several people to carry the pontiff literally on their shoulders. And this tradition lasted almost a millennium, being implemented in the Byzantine period - which had Catholic participation as a highlight in the late 11th century.

And that lasted until Pope John Paul I's short pontificate in 1978. In order to make the papal office more humble, the pontiff declared that he would not use the gestational seat, leaving the decision to continue using the next popes. And since then, it has never been necessary to use the structure.

Mercedes-Benz: the main supplier

It has been 83 years since the first car specially made for a Pope. At the time, there were no protected domes to make it better protected; they were just luxury cars with a few extras that could offer the pontiff the best comfort. And during those eight decades, one company has excelled in the production of popmobiles.

This is Mercedes-Benz. It was she who prepared the papal Nürburg 460 from 1930, and it was also that same manufacturer that presented Pope Francis I with a Mercedes-Benz M-Class. That's right, all the popmobiles ever seen have been gifts from manufacturers to the Catholic Church. Other companies took similar actions, but none were as prominent as Mercedes.

The need for shielding

Despite the controversial figure of some popes of the past, John Paul II (who had his pontificate between 1978 and 2005) was one of the most charismatic religious figures in the world - admiring people of various religions and doctrines. But that was not enough to rid him of an assassination attempt in 1981. On May 13 of that year, John Paul II was shot at the pop-car - a FIAT Campagnola jeep.

Image source: Reproduction / Wikimedia Commons

After this episode, the popmobiles began to be constructed with armored glass domes that, while showing the pontiff to the crowds, could keep him safe and free from possible attacks. That was one of the milestones in changing the meaning of popmobiles. Before, they were transport cars for the pontiff, but from then on they would become much better known as the vehicle that could safely show it to the faithful.

In 1982, Range Rover delivered the 230G vehicle, which was the first popemobile to use the aforementioned armor. Today, in situations where the Pope does not want closed structures, special operations are carried out to counteract any threat that may arise. Something similar will be done in Brazil during the World Youth Day.

The Popemobile in Brazil

During World Youth Day, to be held in Brazil over the next week, Pope Francis I will be on Brazilian soil as pontiff for the first time. And the car that will be used at the event came directly from the Vatican - brought by the C-130 Hercules plane from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB).

It is a modified jeep, with only a front protection and some other materials that will keep the Latin Pope more comfortable. You may have noticed that we said "just a face shield". Pope Francis I will not use a fully armored popmobile while in Rio de Janeiro, so the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN) has expanded all efforts that will be shifted to ensure the pontiff's safety.

This includes police special forces, which will be responsible for escorting the Catholic delegation. It is noteworthy that he can still change his mind during his stay in our territory, with the possibility of using a fully armored car, but there is little chance of that.

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Did you already know the origins of the popmobile and its importance in maintaining papal security? Certainly, it is a great allied force in protecting one of the most important religious figures in the world. Do you think something is missing from the vehicles?