Francis makes round on jeepney-inspired popemobile

MANILA, Philippines - After being served local food like adobo following his arrival in the country Thursday, Pope Francis was given a feel of Philippine transportation, which apparently made him touch the hearts of Filipinos even more.

The pope, waving to huge crowds gathered along roads to and around Rizal Park, rode an elegant yet very Filipino vehicle yesterday – a jeepney-inspired popemobile made by Francisco Motors Corp.

The especially designed popemobile was the star of the papal convoy, which brought Pope Francis to the Quirino Grandstand for the celebration of his last mass in the country yesterday. He leaves for Vatican City today.

In his earlier motorcades in Manila and in Tacloban City in Leyte, Pope Francis used a customized vehicle by Kia Motors, a customized Isuzu D-Max, and a customized blue Volkswagen Touran.

All of the vehicles, upon Pope Francis’ request, had open sides that allowed him to be seen by the crowd.

The design also allowed him to wave at pilgrims and occasionally pick up a child from the crowd, with the help of his security personnel, for him to bless and kiss.

Philippine jeepneys are popular worldwide and are even sometimes tagged as “kings of the road.”

In a press conference yesterday evening, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said that Pope Francis was fond of the jeepney-inspired popemobile and there are plans of donating the vehicle to the Vatican.