Here's why Pope Francis will not use a bullet proof vehicle during his visit in Kenya
The Holy Father will then be in Uganda from November 27 to 29, and conclude the trip in Central African Republic from November 29 to 30.
One of the things that Kenyans can expect to be unique about Pope Francis’ visit would be his security detail.
Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Catholic Church, would not demand much security as other visiting world leaders.
The Pope never prefers to use the highly fortified vehicles (also known as popemobile) used by his predecessors during trips outside St. Peters’s Square as he wants to be closer to the people despite the security risks.
“I cannot greet the people and tell them I love them inside a sardine can, even if it is made of glass. For me it is a wall… It is true something could happen to me but let’s be realistic, at my age I do not have much to lose. I know what could happen, but it is in God’s hands,” he told a Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia in 2014.Several Vatican officials are said to be uncomfortable with the Holy Father’s choice but they have no option but to grant him his wish; he never used a bulletproof car even when visiting the Middle East in May 2014
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| One of the latest bulletproof popemobiles, customised Mercedes Benz M-class, which was used Pope Benedict XVI. Image: Cars And DriversAdd caption |
The bulletproof popemobile was introduced after Pope John Paul II’s assassination attempt by Mehmet Ali Agca in St. Peters’s Square on May 13, 1981.
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| Pope Francis prefers open-topped popemobile that gets him closer to the people. Image: Cars And Drivers |
source: Tuko.co.ke
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