JOHN PAUL II RECEIVES LIMOUSINE FROM MERCEDES-BENZ

VATICAN CITY, MAR 5, 1997 (VIS) - Continuing a tradition which began on November 17, 1930, when Mercedes-Benz presented Pope Pius XI with an eight cylinder Nurburg 460 limousine, the automobile company today presented the Holy Father with an S 500 Landaulet.

The brief ceremony took place in the small square adjacent to the Paul VI Hall, before the general weekly audience.

Currently there are four Mercedes in the Vatican: two white Popemobiles and two black limousines, one from 1966 and the other from 1985. In the car presented today, there is a single seat in back for the Holy Father and another opposite for his secretary.

The limousine which Mercedes-Benz gave to Pius XI is today in perfect working order and can be seen in the Vatican's Historic Museum, which has a section dedicated to papal cars.
JPII-CAR/GIFT/MERCEDES-BENZ VIS 970305 (140)