POPE-WORTHY WHEELS Ford CEO, wife donate a vehicle customized in secret for Holy See BREANA NOBLE The Detroit News Mar 21, 2026 Mar 21, 2026 0 1 of 5 Pope Leo XIV TIZIANA FABI, AFP/GETTY IMAGES A custom-made Ford Explorer SuV for Pope Leo XIV was built in Ford's assembly plant in the pope's native chicago. FORD MOTOR CO. PHOTOS Chicago skyline stitching on the center console Above: detail of the Vatican on one of the engraved scuff plates Left: Ford Motor co. CEO Jim Farley and his wife, Lia, and his family donated a custom-made Ford Explorer SuV to Pope Leo XIV. Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save BREANA NOBLE The Detroit News AUTOSkAmu@C5 |@E@C r@]VD rt~ 2?5 9:D H:76 5@?2E65 E@ !@A6 {6@ )x' 2 D64C6E=J 3F:=E[ 4FDE@>:K65 a_ae u@C5 tIA=@C6C 9J3C:5 $&' 3F:=E :? E96 A@A6VD ?2E:G6 r9:428@]k^AmkAmy:> 2?5 {:2 u2C=6J 8:7E65 E96 G69:4=6 :? E96 AC6D6?46 @7 E96 A@?E:77 5FC:?8 2 u63] ag 46C6>@?J[ E96 7:CDE E:>6 2 u@C5 rt~ 925 2? 2F5:6?46 H:E9 E96 A@A6 2E E96 '2E:42?[ u@C5 DA@<6DA6CD@? s2? q2C3@DD2 D2:5]k^AmkAmt>A=@J66D 2E r9:428@ pDD6>3=J !=2?E <?6H E96 G69:4=6 H2D >256 7@C 2 'x![ U8Ej3FE @?=J C646?E=J =62C?65 H9@ E96 C64:A:6?E H2D 3642FD6 @7 4@?7:56?E:2=:EJ]k^Am kAm%96 rt~ E@@< 2 5C:G6U=Ej H:E9 E96 A@A6 2?5 56>@?DEC2E65 D@>6 @7 E96 G69:4=6VD 25G2?465 762EFC6D[ 2D H6== 2D D@>6 @7 E96 F?:BF6 ?@5D[ :?4=F5:?8 E@ E96 '2E:42? 2?5 9:D r9:428@ FA3C:?8:?8]k^Am People are also reading… Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County Marion man charged with death by distribution in 22-year-old's 2025 overdose death ‘No kings’ rally in downtown Marion draws more than 275 people, organizers say McDowell County Emergency Services Director Will Kehler to retire McDowell County man charged with abuse of child, adults with special needs Firefighters battle blaze off Armstrong Creek Road in northern McDowell County No Kings protests will happen in area for a 3rd time this Saturday. See when and where Multiple departments responding to wildfire in Buck Creek section of McDowell County McDowell County women's powerlifter inducted into North Carolina hall of fame Marion man charged with murder Wednesday in 2024 death of 3-month-old daughter Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor Fire in Buck Creek section of McDowell still 175 acres Monday morning, 0% contained Property tax exemptions are available for qualifying property owners in McDowell County McDowell County alumni Dwayne Ledford went from high school football player to NFL coach kAmQw6 ?@E:465 2?5 2AAC64:2E65 E96 A6CD@?2= E@F496D — 56E2:=D =:<6 E96 r9:428@ D<J=:?6 DE:E49:?8 2?5 E96 r9:428@ 7=28 D62E E28D[Q u2C=6J D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E] Q(6 6G6? E@@< 2 BF:4< 5C:G6[ 2?5 x 42? 4@?7:C> E96 w@=J u2E96C 6?;@JD 5C:G:?8 2 DA@CEJ C:56] qFE >@C6 E92? 2?JE9:?8[ H92E DE2JD H:E9 >6 :D E96 766=:?8 @7 8C2E:EF56 2?5 ;@J H6 6IA6C:6?465 >66E:?8 9:> 2?5 D92C:?8 E9:D D>2== 86DEFC6 — @?6 E92E C67=64ED E96 AC:56 2?5 42C6 @7 E96 u@C5 E62> 324< 9@>6 :? r9:428@]Qk^Am kAmu2C=6J 7@C J62CD G@=F?E66C65 2E s6EC@:EVD !@A6 uC2?4:D r6?E6C[ :?4=F5:?8 :ED $E] p?E@:?6 $EC66E 46?E6C 5@H?E@H? E92E D6CG6D 9@E >62=D 2?5 E96 qC:586 w@FD:?8 r6?E6C :? E96 r@C6 r:EJ ?6:893@C9@@5 ?62C x?E6CDE2E6 he 2?5 (2CC6? pG6?F6 E92E @776CD A=246D E@ DE2J 7@C >6? H9@ 2C6 9@>6=6DD 2?5 C6D@FC46D 7@C EC2?D:E:@?:?8 E@ A6C>2?6?E 9@FD:?8]k^Am kAmu2C=6J D2:5 96 C624965 @FE E@ E96 '2E:42? D6G6C2= >@?E9D 28@ 23@FE E96 8:7E[ 8:G6? E96 A@A6VD 4@??64E:@?D E@ E96 4:EJVD $@FE9 $:56 H96C6 u@C5 92D @A6C2E65 7@C >@C6 E92? 2 46?EFCJ]k^AmkAm%96C6 H2D :?E6C6DE :? 2 9J3C:5[ 3FE u@C5 7@C E96 a_ad >@56= J62C DE@AA65 >2<:?8 2 C6E2:= 9J3C:5 G6CD:@? @7 E96 tIA=@C6C] p 9J3C:5 !@=:46 x?E6C46AE@C G6CD:@? C6>2:?D :? AC@5F4E:@?j :ED A@H6CEC2:? H2D FD65 :? E96 $&' 7@C E96 A@A6]k^Am kAm!@A6 {6@ )x' C646:G65 2 3=24< !=2E:?F> p(s >@56= H:E9 2 b]b\=:E6C '\e 9J3C:5 A@H6CEC2:? 2?5 `_\DA665 9J3C:5 EC2?D>:DD:@? 2?5 t&\DA64 C25:@ 92C5H2C6] %96 G69:4=6 2=D@ 762EFC6D 6?8C2G65 D4F77 A=2E6D H:E9 2 r9:428@\E@\'2E:42? 56D:8?]k^Am kAm%96 9:89\6?5 !=2E:?F> tIA=@C6C DE2CED 2E Sd_[hed[ 3FE E96 4FDE@>:K2E:@?D H@F=5 255 E9@FD2?5D @7 5@==2CD >@C6] r9:428@ 6>A=@J66D 2=D@ :?4=F565 H:E9 E96 G69:4=6 2 A:4EFC6 @7 6>A=@J66D 2E E96 A=2?E[ 92?5HC:EE6? =6EE6CD[ 2 r9:428@ pDD6>3=J !=2?E C64@8?:E:@? 4@:? 2?5 2 A:KK2 3@I 7C@> pFC6=:@VD !:KK2[ 2 72G@C:E6 9@>6E@H? C6DE2FC2?E @7 E96 A@A6]k^Am kAm%96C6 2=D@ H6C6 G2?:EJ A=2E6D E92E D2:5 Q{t~ )x'Q 2?5 Qsp !~!tQ — 2 C676C6?46 E@ Q$2EFC52J }:89E {:G6VDQ q:== $H6CD<:VD $FA6C u2?D D<:E 762EFC:?8 72?D @7 Q52 q62CD[Q r9:428@VD }u{ E62>] %92E D<:E 762EFC65 u2C=6JVD 4@FD:?[ E96 =2E6 4@>65:2? r9C:D u2C=6J]k^AmkAmu@C5 6>A=@J66D :? r9:428@ :?G@=G65 :? E96 AC@;64E D2:5 :E H2D 2 42C66C 9:89=:89E 2?5 2? 9@?@C]k^Am kAmQx 8C25F2E65 7C@> $2:?E #:E2 :? `hge[ D@ <?@H:?8 E92E E96 !@A6 H9@ @?46 E2F89E >6 :D ?@H 5C:G:?8 D@>6E9:?8 x 96=A65 2DD6>3=6 — :EVD F?36=:6G23=6[Q p5@=A9FD w2CA6C[ AC6\56=:G6CJ DA64:2=:DE[ D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E AC@G:565 3J E96 2FE@>2<6C] Qx 2> AC@F5 E@ 36 A2CE @7 E9:D] %@ D66 D@>6@?6 4@??64E65 E@ >J @H? 65F42E:@? 364@>6 A2CE @7 D@>6E9:?8 D@ 9:DE@C:4 — :EVD 2>2K:?8] Qk^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike The driver of an electric bike was declared dead at the scene, according to highway patrol. One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County Upon arrival, crews found one patient with critical injuries. Paramedics took the person to Mission Hospital McDowell. Marion man charged with death by distribution in 22-year-old's 2025 overdose death An autopsy revealed the man died from toxic levels of fentanyl and cocaine in his system. ‘No kings’ rally in downtown Marion draws more than 275 people, organizers say “Folks are paying attention, and they’re ready to head to the polls in the midterms and vote for leadership that respects all Americans.” McDowell County Emergency Services Director Will Kehler to retire “Will’s leadership has left a lasting impact on our organization and our community in ways that will continue for generations."
Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike The driver of an electric bike was declared dead at the scene, according to highway patrol.
One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County Upon arrival, crews found one patient with critical injuries. Paramedics took the person to Mission Hospital McDowell.
Marion man charged with death by distribution in 22-year-old's 2025 overdose death An autopsy revealed the man died from toxic levels of fentanyl and cocaine in his system.
‘No kings’ rally in downtown Marion draws more than 275 people, organizers say “Folks are paying attention, and they’re ready to head to the polls in the midterms and vote for leadership that respects all Americans.”
McDowell County Emergency Services Director Will Kehler to retire “Will’s leadership has left a lasting impact on our organization and our community in ways that will continue for generations."
