NewsChannel 8 Script:
Anchor Introduction:
MORE THAN 40,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO CROWD INTO NATIONALS STADIUM TO SEE POPE BENEDICT THE SIXTEENTH, BUT EVEN MORE WILL LINE STREETS TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE PONTIFF.
AND A VERY FAMILIAR VEHICLE WILL BE DRIVING HIM.
PHILIP STEWART TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT "THE POPEMOBILE."
Script:
IT'S A CAR LIKE NONE OTHER, WITH A NAME LIKE NONE OTHER.
THE "POPEMOBILE" IS ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZEABLE CARS IN THE WORLD. AND FOR POPE BENEDICT THE SIXTEENTH'S VISIT, THE "POPEMOBILE" IS HEADED TO WASHINGTON.
"I'm glad that they've decided to do that, because I think it would be disappointing to people otherwise if they weren't able to catch a glimpse of the Pope," said Pat Ryan Garcia, Assistant Director for Digital Media at the U.S. Conference of Bishops.
ORIGINALLY THE MASS AT NATIONALS STADIUM WAS THE ONLY CHANCE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE THE POPE. BUT-- ACCORDING TO THE ARCHDIOSIS OF WASHINGTON-- BECAUSE OF HIGH DEMAND TO SEE BENEDICT THE SIXTEENTH, THE VATICAN ADDED RIDES IN THE POPEMOBILE.
"It's multiplied by a hundred fold the number of people who get to see him," said Krystyn Schmerbeck with the Archdiocese of Washington.
ONE OF TWO MERCEDES M-CLASS VEHICLES -- LIKE THIS ONE -- WAS SHIPPED FROM THE VATICAN AT THE END OF MARC (web|news) H. BUT THE POPE'S CAR HAS A LONG HISTORY--- ONE OF THE FIRST POPEMOBILES WAS THIS MERCEDES IN 1930.
GRADUALLY, STYLES AND MAKES CHANGED WITH THE TIMES.
FOR THE MOST PART, THEY WERE MODIFIED LIMOUSINES, MANY MANUFACTURED BY VARIOUS FOREIGN CAR MAKERS.
BY THE TIME POPE PAUL THE SIXTH CAME TO THE U.S. IN OCTOBER OF 1965, FORD MODIFIED A PRESIDENTIAL LIMOUSINE FOR THE POPE.
THERE WAS A BACK SEAT THAT COULD BE RAISED ABOUT A FOOT BY A HAND CRANK, SO THAT THE POPE COULD BE SEEN THROUGH A CUSTOM HOLE CUT INTO THE ROOF.
FOURTEEN YEARS LATER, WHEN POPE JOHN PAUL THE SECOND VISITED THE U.S., HE RODE IN THIS LIMOUSINE. AGAIN, A SEAT INSIDE COULD BE RAISED SO HE COULD BE SEEN THROUGH A MODIFIED SUNROOF.
BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED.
"The world is a different place," said Frank Persico, the Vice President of University Relations for Catholic University. "You don't see the pope with his head sticking out of a car as he did in '79."
ON MAY 13, 1981, POPE JOHN PAUL II WENT INTO ST. PETER'S SQUARE IN ROME TO BLESS SOME 20,000 WORSHIPPERS.
AS HE ENTERED -- IN AN OPEN TOP VEHICLE -- A MAN IN THE CROWD PULLED OUT A 9 MILLIMETER PISTOL AND SHOT THE POPE. JOHN PAUL WAS HIT FOUR TIMES FROM JUST 15 FEET AWAY.
"Certainly in the life of the people who run security for the Vatican, things changed after the attempted assassination of John Paul II," said Craig Parker, the General Counsel for Catholic University.
"Thank God he lived through that," said Carole Lehan, the co-hose of Catholic Radio Weekly. "Whatever the Pope needs to stay protected. I think it's a reality of the times."
WHAT RESULTED WAS A NEW CULTURAL ICON, THE POPEMOBILE.
THE MODERN DAY VERSION WAS CONCEIVED WITH A BULLET-PROOF GLASS DOME.
AND THOUGH THE VATICAN KEEPS MOST SECURITY MEASURES PRIVATE, SOME RECENT VERSIONS OF THE POPEMOBILE ARE ALSO SAID TO BE BOMB-PROOF.
"John Paul II tried very hard not to let that be a barrier," said Lehan. "And hopefully that will be the case with 'Bene'."
ACCORDING TO THE ARCHDIOCESE, THE POPEMOBILE WILL BE USED IN SEVERAL MOTORCADES THROUGH TOWN DURING HIS VISIT. (CLICK HERE FOR A MAP)
AND FOR THOSE PLANNING TO BE IN THE CROWDS, IT'S A WELCOME SHIPMENT.
"he's looking out in the crowd but there's that minute where it's, 'Oh, I think we made eye contact.' That's the moment I think people are looking for," said Schmerbeck
A MOMENT MANY MORE PEOPLE WILL GET TO SEE NEXT WEEK... THANKS TO THE POPEMOBILE.
PHILIP STEWART, NEWSCHANNEL 8.
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