Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.motorbiscuit.com
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, is heading to Uruguay from November 6 to November 8, and he will be riding in a white Fiat pickup truck dressed up for papal duty.
According to CarBuzz, Fiat built the vehicle together with Nordex SA, a Uruguay-based industrial partner of Stellantis. The result shows how a modest regional workhorse became a ceremonial ride for the pope’s public appearances during the visit.
A Throne in the Truck Bed
The pope’s version of the truck looks nothing like the showroom model. Nordex reworked the cargo bed into a passenger platform. A height-adjustable swivel seat sits in the middle, with a padded bench on each side. Every seat is wrapped in white leather, and red carpeting covers the floor and sides.
For safety, guard rails surround the area, while retractable electronic steps make climbing aboard easy. Above, a transparent roof held up by metal tubing keeps the elements away. Vatican City flags are fixed above the headlights, and the Vatican insignia decorates the doors. Apart from those touches, the whole truck is finished in white.
The Pickup Underneath
Beneath all that finery is the Fiat Titano, a midsize pickup sold mainly in Latin America and parts of Africa. A 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel provides up to 200 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. Drivers can pick rear- or all-wheel drive, and the transmission is either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic.
The pickup is built body-on-frame, carries up to 2,500 pounds, and tows as much as 7,700 pounds. Little about the standard truck is flashy, but the range-topping Ranch trim brings 18-inch alloy wheels, an upgraded cabin, and a 360-degree camera. It is also a rebadged Peugeot Landtrek, a model sold in other markets.
During the visit, the pope will be driven through Montevideo, Paysandú, and Florida. Yes, Uruguay has its own Florida. Few people outside the region have heard of the Titano, yet this build gives a plain workhorse a ceremonial makeover. With its white leather, red carpet, and Vatican emblems, the truck is ready to carry the first American pope through his public appearances in Uruguay.
