Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Custom Ford Explorer for African Tour

The pontiff begins a 10-day visit across Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:34am

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A cinematic painting of a Ford SUV parked on an airport tarmac, bathed in warm light and deep shadows, with a papal plane in the background, conceptually illustrating the pope's diplomatic influence.Pope Leo XIV's arrival in his custom Ford SUV underscores the Vatican's growing global influence and the pontiff's vision for the Church's diplomatic role.Dolton Today

Pope Leo XIV arrived at the airport in Rome on Monday, April 13, 2026, in his custom 2026 Ford Explorer to board the papal plane for a 10-day apostolic journey across Africa. The vehicle was a personal gift from Ford CEO Jim Farley, built by UAW members at the automaker's Chicago Assembly Plant near the pope's childhood home. The trip is expected to focus on themes of faith, peace, migration, the environment, young people, and family.

Why it matters

The visit highlights the Vatican's growing focus on Africa, where Catholic communities are expanding rapidly. Pope Leo XIV has also been increasingly speaking out against military conflict, positioning himself as a diplomatic counterweight to the Trump administration's interventionist foreign policy.

The details

Pope Leo XIV drove across the tarmac at Fiumicino Airport in Rome to board the papal plane on Monday morning. The Ford Explorer was a personal gift from Ford CEO Jim Farley, built by UAW workers at the automaker's Chicago Assembly Plant, located just five miles from the pope's childhood home in Dolton, Illinois. The vehicle was intended to honor the people, place and history that helped shape the global head of the Catholic Church, which represents more than 1.5 billion adherents worldwide.

  • Pope Leo XIV arrived at the airport in Rome on Monday, April 13, 2026.
  • The papal plane departed at 9:06 a.m. from Rome (3:06 a.m. EST) on Monday, bound for Algiers International Airport Houari Boumediene.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

The current pope and head of the Catholic Church, who is making his third and longest-yet apostolic journey to Africa.

Jim Farley

The CEO of Ford Motor Company, who personally presented the custom 2026 Ford Explorer to Pope Leo XIV as a gift.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president, who has publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV's stance on foreign policy and called him "weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy."

JD Vance

The current U.S. vice president, who has argued that the Vatican should "stick to matters of morality" and not engage in foreign policy.

Robert Cardinal McElroy

The archbishop who delivered a homily calling for action beyond just prayer to advocate for peace with political representatives and leaders.

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What they’re saying

“God can't be used to justify war.”

— Pope Leo XIV

“We are not politicians, we don't deal with foreign policy with the same perspective he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel, blessed are the peacemakers.”

— Pope Leo XIV

“We must move beyond prayer. As citizens and believers in this democracy that we cherish so deeply, we must advocate for peace with our representatives and leaders. It is not enough to say we have prayed. We must also act.”

— Archbishop Robert Cardinal McElroy

What’s next

The pope is scheduled to spend two days in Algeria, becoming the first pontiff to visit the country. He plans to visit a home for the elderly run by the Little Sisters of the Poor and preside over Mass at the Basilica of St. Augustine in Annaba.

The takeaway

Pope Leo XIV's visit to Africa and his outspoken stance against using religion to justify war position him as a diplomatic counterweight to the more interventionist foreign policy of the Trump administration. His focus on themes of faith, peace, and human rights reflects a vision for the Catholic Church's role in global affairs that differs from some political leaders.