Pope Leo XIV sat inside the Ferrari Luce, the company's first fully electric vehicle, on Tuesday [1].
The event marks a significant pivot for the luxury Italian automaker as it attempts to align its high-performance brand with global shifts toward sustainable energy. By presenting the vehicle to the pontiff, Ferrari leverages a high-profile endorsement to signal its commitment to an electric future [2].
The unveiling took place May 26, 2026 [1], at Castel Gandolfo [1]. This location serves as the summer residence for the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV was the first individual outside of Ferrari to sit inside the Luce, reports said [4].
While some initial reports suggested the pontiff drove the vehicle, other sources said that he sat inside and tested the interior but did not drive the car [3]. The Ferrari Luce represents the brand's first foray into a completely battery-electric powertrain [1].
Ferrari used the meeting to showcase the design and technology of the new model [2]. The company has spent years developing the platform to ensure the electric transition does not compromise the performance associated with the brand. The presence of the Pope at the unveiling underscores the cultural intersection of Italian industrial prestige and the Vatican's influence.
“Pope Leo XIV was the first individual outside Ferrari to sit inside the Luce”
The strategic decision to unveil the Luce to Pope Leo XIV suggests Ferrari is positioning its electric transition as a moral and environmental imperative, rather than just a regulatory requirement. By associating the brand's first EV with the papacy, Ferrari seeks to validate the luxury supercar's place in a future defined by climate consciousness.
