The popemobile through the years

Pope John Paul II rides around St. Peter’s Square in October 1998 after an open-air Mass celebrated by Polish Primate Cardinal Joseph Glemp. About 20,000 fellow Poles came to Rome to mark John Paul’s 20th anniversary as pontiff.  (Plinio Lepri / Associated Press)

Pope John Paul II is back in his protective popemobile as he makes his way to the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City in January 1999.  (Dario Lopez-Mills / Associated Press)

The pontiff rides in his open popemobile in October 2002 in St. Peter’s Square.  (Gabriel Buoys / Associated Press)

Pope Benedict XVI’s car is escorted by bodyguards on the way to St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome in May 2005.  (Giulio Napolitano AFP/Getty Images)

In St. Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd from a partially enclosed popemobile after attending Palm Sunday Mass last month.  (Marco Di Lauro / Getty Images)