The custom vehicle is a 2026 Ford Explorer Platinum hybrid. It was ordered and paid for by Ford President and CEO Jim Farley, who is a devout Catholic. It was presented to Pope Leo XIV by Farley and his wife Lia at the Vatican in late February. CEO Farley was taken by the fact that Ford builds the Explorer in its plant on the south side of Chicago and Pope Leo was raised in the same area. Workers were only told that the custom Explorer was for a VIP. According to Ford, workers were stunned when they were told who the vehicle was for.
Jennifer Barilovich was the Lead Electrical Systems integration engineer on the top-secret project. She says Pope Leo XIV is one of her personal icons.
“As soon as I could, I told my family,” she recalled. “I come from a huge Catholic family, so everyone was thrilled and just thought it was the coolest project.”
A Chicago Gift for a World-Famous Chicagoan
Dozens of Ford employees like Barilovich worked together to create the one-of-a-kind Explorer. The Pontiff plans to use the vehicle to cross the Vatican grounds.
Like all other Explorers, the new ride was assembled at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant, which has operated for over a century on Torrence Avenue, on the city’s South Side. It’s a fitting tribute to the Pope’s own history: Leo XIV himself was raised roughly 5 miles away, in the suburb of Dolton.
Technically, The Ford Explorer doesn’t come in a hybrid, but the Explorer-based police SUV called the Interceptor has a hybrid powertrain so Ford adapted that for the vehicle. The Explorer was customized with a 3.3L V6 hybrid powertrain and 10-speed hybrid transmission, as well as an antenna that’s compatible with the European broadcast radio system. The team created vanity license plates that say “DA POPE” and “LEO XIV.” “DA POPE” is a take-off on the famous Saturday Night Live skits about Da Bears from Chicago. CEO Jim Farley’s cousin Chris Farley starred in the skits that are often still quoted. Pope Leo is a sports fan and is fond of the Chicago White Sox.
On the inside, design details boast Chicago-to-Vatican pride. Little tags of the Chicago flag are on the seats, and the Chicago Skyline is embroidered on the console. Both the Skyline and Saint Peter’s Basilica are etched on the door scuff plates. The Explorer’s interior appears to be black leather, which is a custom color. I know my Ford Explorer has the Chicago Skyline represented in the molded plastic so I would guess it’s in this vehicle as well.
Custom Explorer was Hand-Delivered to the Vatican
CEO Jim Farley and his wife Lia personally delivered the car during a private audience at the Vatican on Feb. 28, 2026. I think it is important to note that the SUV was a personal gift from the Farleys, but it contains a lot of Chicago workers' pride.
“He noticed and appreciated all the personal touches,” Farley said of the Pontiff’s reaction. “We even took a quick drive, and I can confirm the Holy Father enjoys driving a sporty ride.”
According to Farley, what really stuck out from the conversation was the feeling of pride in the shared Chicago connection. Farley brought a photo of the Chicago Assembly plant team and handwritten letters from those who worked on the car. In return, the Pope blessed several rosaries to bring back to the staff.
For those workers, “pride” is the word that comes to mind when they think about the Pope behind the wheel.
“I hope my letter gave the Pope a sense of how proud I am,” said Barilovich, the electrical systems engineer. “This is the highlight of my professional life so far.”
2026 Ford Explorer
Over 8 million Ford Explorers have been produced since the model debuted as a 1991 model. Originally, the Explorer was more truck-like built on a truck platform. The SUV has remained a top-selling mid-size model over six generations.
Images by Ford.
About The Author
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.
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