Benz, presented the pope with a white and chrome key fob inside a white box after showing off the new open-air vehicle.

Shortly before his 88th birthday, the head of 1.4 billion Catholics is treating himself to a new set of wheels: a custom-made vehicle from Mercedes-Benz that for the first time drives without any harmful CO2 emissions.

The Vatican on Wednesday unveiled a new open-top popemobile, an all-electric Mercedes-Benz that Pope Francis will use when he greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square. The vehicle, a modified version of the German company's G-Class mid-size luxury SUV,

Benz, which has supplied cars to the Vatican for nearly 10 years, the new Popemobile was unveiled in a ceremony involving the Pope and the company's leadership.

Mercedes-Benz Group AG may be struggling to sell its electric cars, but it just landed a heavenly endorsement: Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, will ride in a battery-powered G-Wagon.

The Vatican unveils a new open-top,all-electric popemobile:::: Sten Ola Kallenius, CEO, Mercedes-Benz Group"It's hundreds of hours of craftsmanship and passion of the team that has joined us here today from Mercedes to build a one-of-a-kind popemobile.