Urbi et orbi: Benedict wants a solar-powered popemobile

The old ML-Klasse doesn't quite fit with His Holiness's embrace of "sustainability," reports the Associated Press:

Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, who runs the Vatican City state, said Wednesday Benedict would certainly prefer an electric popemobile to a traditional, petroleum-powered one given the priority he has given to making the Vatican a leader in green energy.

His comments came during a presentation of a book on the Vatican's ecological efforts: "The Energy of the Sun in the Vatican." The book documents the 2008 installation of photovoltaic cells on the roof of the Vatican's main auditorium and the 2009 installation of a solar cooling unit for its main cafeteria.

Let's hope the Vatican doesn't instruct politicans to support "green" transportation policies lest they deviate from Church teachings.

The Pontiff was cooler when he rode in a G-Wagen.

[Photo of 2006 popemobile: BBC]