Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley and his wife, Lia, recently presented Pope Leo XIV with a specially built 2026 Ford Explorer hybrid, a one-of-a-kind SUV designed and assembled by employees at the company’s Chicago Assembly Plant.
According to Ford, the vehicle was created as a tribute to the pope’s Chicago-area roots and the long history of Ford manufacturing in the city. Pope Leo XIV grew up in Dolton, Illinois, a suburb located just a few miles from the South Side plant where the SUV was built.
Farley personally delivered the Explorer to the pontiff during a private audience at the Vatican on Feb. 28. During the visit, Farley demonstrated some of the vehicle’s features and even took a short drive with the pope, according to Ford’s From The Road news site.
“He noticed and appreciated all the personal touches,” said Farley said of the Pontiff’s reaction. “We even took a quick drive, and I can confirm the Holy Father enjoys driving a sporty ride.”
The custom SUV started life as a 2026 Ford Explorer Platinum all-wheel-drive hybrid. The vehicle uses a hybrid powertrain built around a 3.3-liter V-6 engine paired with an electric motor and a 10-speed automatic transmission. While Ford no longer offers a hybrid Explorer to retail customers, the company still produces the hybrid system for its Police Interceptor Utility vehicles.
The project was kept largely secret inside the Chicago Assembly Plant. According to Ford, many employees were told they were building a vehicle for a “VIP,” but they did not learn it was destined for the pope until after the SUV was completed.
Workers spent months assembling the vehicle and adding unique touches that reflect both the pope’s Chicago heritage and the Vatican destination where the Explorer will be used.
Among the custom features are seat tags bearing the Chicago flag and interior stitching that outlines the Chicago skyline. Other trim details reference the connection between Chicago and Rome.
The SUV was also equipped with European-compatible radio equipment so it can operate properly in Italy.
Some of the project’s lighter details show a bit of Chicago humor as well. Vanity license plates reading “LEO XIV” and “DA POPE” were included with the vehicle. The latter is a playful nod to the famous Chicago-themed “Da Bears” sketches on Saturday Night Live, which starred the late comedian Chris Farley, a cousin of Ford CEO Jim Farley.
The Explorer was delivered with several gifts from the Chicago Assembly Plant workforce. Those items included a photo of the employees who helped build the vehicle, handwritten notes from team members, and a commemorative challenge coin from the plant. Workers also reportedly sent along a pizza box from Aurelio’s Pizza, a Chicago-area favorite reportedly enjoyed by the pope during his time living in the region.
Ford said the pope noticed the personal details incorporated into the vehicle and expressed appreciation for the effort that went into the project. During the visit, Ford says Pope Leo XIV blessed several rosaries for Ford employees as a gesture of thanks.
Although popes are known for traveling in specially designed vehicles commonly referred to as “popemobiles,” the Explorer is expected to serve as practical transportation inside Vatican City rather than as a ceremonial vehicle used during large public appearances.
The Explorer Platinum trim typically starts at just over $50,000 before options, though the custom engineering and unique design elements in this one-of-a-kind vehicle likely increase its overall value.
For workers at the Chicago Assembly Plant, the project became a point of pride. Many said helping build a vehicle for the pontiff was one of the most meaningful assignments of their careers, according to Ford.
The SUV represents a rare intersection of faith, hometown pride and American manufacturing.
And somewhere inside the Vatican now sits a Chicago-built Ford Explorer hybrid — possibly the only vehicle in the world with Chicago skyline stitching, a Vatican destination and a license plate that reads “DA POPE.”
Photos: Ford.
