Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Mercedes’ parent company Daimler, personally delivered the Pope’s brand new modified M Class crossover to the Vatican last week. “It is an honor for Mercedes-Benz to be accompanying His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on his future journeys with our new Popemobile”, Zetsche said in a statement. “For more than 80 years now, Popes have been able to rely on the quality, safety and comfort of our Mercedes-Benz vehicles.”

But there’s something special about this year’s edition that may just make it the greatest Popemobile ever assembled: it was built right here in sweet home Alabama.

The Popemobile gives the leader of the Catholic Church the ability to get close to the public while maintaining the highest levels of safety. This year’s Alabama-built model features a brand new interior design including the car’s most notable design feature, the white throne embroidered with the Holy Father’s coat of arms.

The protective dome has been extended significantly compared to previous versions but the overall heigh of the vehicle was slightly lowered to allow for easier transport by air.

Mercedes-Benz has been providing vehicles for the trips and official appearances of the Pope for more than 80 years now. Work on the newest version began about 9 months ago. When Popemobiles reach the end of their working lives, they can be viewed as part of the collections on display at both the Vatican and the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.