Ford Presents Custom 2026 Explorer Hybrid to Pope Leo XIV

Ford CEO Jim Farley presented Pope Leo XIV with a custom 2026 Ford Explorer Hybrid built in Chicago. Learn how the one-of-a-kind SUV connects the Pope’s roots and the city.

Ford presented Pope Leo XIV with a one-of-a-kind 2026 Ford Explorer Platinum Hybrid, a specially prepared vehicle created by dozens of employees at the company’s Chicago Assembly Plant. The SUV was personally delivered by Ford CEO Jim Farley and his wife Lia during a private audience at the Vatican on February 28.

The project remained confidential for much of its development. Engineers involved in building the vehicle were initially told only that it was being prepared for an important VIP. Only later did many of them learn that the recipient would be the Pope himself.

The vehicle was assembled at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant, one of the company’s longest-operating facilities. The factory has been producing vehicles since 1924 and today builds models such as the Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator and the Police Interceptor Utility. The location carries symbolic meaning: the plant sits roughly five miles from the suburb of Dolton, where Pope Leo XIV grew up.

The custom Explorer is equipped with a 3.3-liter V6 hybrid powertrain paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid system produces about 318 horsepower and around 437 Nm of torque, combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery.

To ensure compatibility with European systems, the SUV was also fitted with an antenna designed for European broadcast radio frequencies.

The vehicle features several personalized elements linking Chicago and the Vatican. Vanity license plates read “DA POPE” and “LEO XIV.” Inside the cabin, designers added subtle references to the Pope’s hometown, including Chicago flag tags on the seats, an embroidered skyline on the center console and door-sill engravings combining the silhouettes of Chicago and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Despite its symbolism, the SUV is not intended to serve as a traditional Popemobile. Instead, it will be used primarily for transportation within the Vatican grounds, while official Popemobiles — historically often supplied by Mercedes-Benz — are designed for public appearances and ceremonial duties.

The handover carried a personal touch as well. Farley presented the Pope with a photo of the Chicago Assembly Plant team and handwritten letters from employees who helped build the vehicle. In return, the pontiff blessed several rosaries to be brought back to the workers who contributed to the project.

For many of those employees, the project became a source of particular pride. The idea that a vehicle assembled near their workplace — and close to the Pope’s childhood home — would soon be driven inside the Vatican added a symbolic connection between Chicago and the Holy See.