Pope Francis could be riding around in a jeepney-inspired “pope mobile” when he visits the Philippines in January.
Ambassador to the Holy See Henrietta De Villa said on Friday there are suggestions that the official vehicle for Francis be a converted jeepney.
De Villa said the suggestion came up after the pope rode in a Kia Soul and a Hyundai Santa Fe during his trip to South Korea earlier this month.
Kia and Hyundai are South Korean auto brands.
“I think they are thinking about that. I think they are thinking about something like that [a jepney turned into a pope mobile],” de Villa said in an interview.
The Kia Soul was a dark gray car, and the Hyundai Santa Fe was a white unit, the report said.
If the proposal is adopted, the roof of the pope mobile will be removed so that the vehicle will resemble a jeepney, the most common form of public transport in the Philippines.
De Villa clarified that they have not decided on the type of transportation that the Pope will be using during his four-day visit to the Philippines in 2015.
She said the Vatican has not indicated his vehicle preference to the Filipino community.
Francis will be in the country from January 15 to 19.
De Villa said a set of Vatican officials will be going back to the Philippines in November to wrap up arrangements for the papal visit, which includes a trip to areas in Central Visayas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.
She added that the Church would have ample time in preparing for the visit even if the itinerary was determined in November, only more than a month before Francis sets foot on Philippine soil for the first time.
“I don’t think that [itinerary] will be a problem. If ever, we have two full months to make it,” de Villa said.