As long as there have been popes, they have needed transportation. Footmen used to shoulder his holiness on portable thrones, known as sedia gestatoria, to greet the public during special occasions and processionals.

But human power was eventually traded for horsepower, and papal movers evolved with the times.

"Popemobile" is not an official term, but it came into vogue in the 1970s with the creation of a series of white all-terrain vehicles with bubble tops.

Through the years, dozens of vehicles have been specially tailored by carmakers like Cadillac, Mercedes and Jeep for the needs of the pontiff.