What's the news?
Let's get something straight right off the bat - there are political and social implications to the visit of Pope Francis to Dublin, and much of how you feel about that will be dependent on your own personal feelings, your faith (or otherwise) and your experience of the Catholic church. We're not touching any of that with a bargepole, here. This is a car site, and we're going to talk about the car.
The car in this case is a Skoda Rapid, the mid-size hatchback that fits into the Skoda range between the Fabia and the Octavia, and one of which has been modified to serve as ground-transport for Pope Francis when he arrives in Dublin, on the 25th of August. The Rapid will transport the Pope from Dublin airport to Áras an Uachtaráin, for his meeting with President Higgins.
Speaking about the partnership, Skoda Ireland's Head of Marketing and Product, Raymond Leddy, said:
"We are excited and honoured to be official car partner of the World Meeting of Families 2018. All Skoda models are designed and built with the family in mind. We offer some of the most spacious cars on the market, perfect for families young and old, so this is a great opportunity for us to showcase the quality of the Skoda range to mass audiences, both at home and abroad.
"The Skoda Rapid was chosen as it is one of the best value vehicles in the Skoda range, providing extensive rear-seat space and ease of access. Three identical Skoda Rapid vehicles, each fitted with unique identification registration plates, have been reserved for the event.
"As part of the Papal fleet, we are commemorating Pope John Paul II's visit to Ireland, with vehicle registration 182-C-1979 and, of course, marking this year's event with vehicle registration 182-C-2018. 182-D-9093 is the primary vehicle, which, when the digits 9093 are inverted, spells out the word Pope. Each Skoda Rapid provided has been customised to requirements. Modified glass has been installed and each vehicle has been provided in a unique navy-blue colour as requested. Small chrome flag poles have also been installed to the passenger-side fenders, which will display the Vatican flag."
In addition to providing transport to Pope Francis in Dublin and Knock, Skoda Ireland will provide logistical services to dignitaries, with a fleet of Superb, Karoq and Octavia vehicles.
The use of a small hatchback, rather than something more grand, fits in with Pope Francis' image - for his first official visit to the US, he used a Fiat 500L. As with that 500L, the two Rapids will be presented to a nominated charity after the visit, to help raise funds.