One of the two Skoda cars used by Pope Francis during his visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of the Families was photographed at Dalgan Park, home of the Columbans in Ireland, for publicity in advance of the papal visit.
Ahead of the Pope’s arrival on Saturday 25 August, Skoda Ireland unveiled pictures of the Skoda ‘Rapid’ which transported the Pontiff from Dublin Airport to Áras an Uachtaráin and then on to Dublin Castle.
It is pictured outside one wing of the College and Fr Cyril Lovett’s geraniums are visible on the upper floor.
The Pope used two Skoda Rapids during his visit, one in Dublin and the other in Knock. Both cars are to be donated to charities, one helping the homeless and the other a search and rescue charity in Derry.
Skoda was the official car partner to the World Meeting of Families 2018.
On Monday, the Archdiocese of Dublin announced that, on the recommendation of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, one car would be donated to Crosscare, the social care agency of the Archdiocese of Dublin, for use by staff at their Mater Dei homeless hub.
Each week, Crosscare staff assist homeless families at the hub move on from this temporary facility to more secure, long-term accommodation.
According to Crosscare, there can be as many as 50 families in the hub seeking housing at any one time.
Since it opened, 100 families have moved through the temporary system, facilitated by Crosscare workers in their homeless services.
Unfortunately, with the homeless crisis continuing, as each family moves on, another one is waiting to move in and the family hub is constantly full.
The blue Skoda Rapid used by the Pontiff will be used by Crosscare staff to take families who are moving on to view their next accommodation. According to the archdiocese of Dublin, it will be in daily use.
Conor Hickey, Director of Crosscare services, said the agency was delighted with the gift from the Pope and he hoped that families who were struggling in this way would find this gesture from the Pope of some comfort in that they were constantly remembered by him.
Crosscare will not, however, be able to keep the number plate on the car – SCV 1 – which is an acronym both in Italian and in Latin.
The Latin is Status Civitatis Vaticanae and the Italian is Stato della Città del Vaticano and when translated from both languages, it means Vatican City.
Road vehicles registered in Vatican City use the prefix SCV followed by a series of digits.
Ahead of Pope Francis’ visit last weekend, a number of special licence plates were prepared by Skoda for the occasion.
Pope Francis as he arrives at Áras an Uachtaráin. PIC: MAXWELLS/WMOF2018
Raymond Leddy of Skoda Ireland told RTÉ, “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 car 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.”
The other Skoda car used by Pope Francis while he was in Knock on Sunday morning has been offered to the Derry-based volunteer charity, Foyle Search and Rescue.
Welcoming the donation to Foyle Search and Rescue, Archbishop Eamon Martin said, “I am most appreciative to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin for this generosity regarding this gift of a car used by Pope Francis during his wonderful visit to our country. This Skoda ‘Rapid’ will be of great practical help to the volunteers of Foyle Search and Rescue as they undertake their brave and vital life-saving work.”
Foyle Search and Rescue was set up in 1993 by local people in Derry in response to the high number of people drowned in the River Foyle. The service now includes suicide prevention and supporting families in the city.
Archbishop Eamon Martin continued, “From my time as a priest ministering in Derry, I know well at first-hand how the local Foyle Search and Rescue volunteers work selflessly, and of their own free time, each week to help those who are vulnerable and in need. The volunteers patrol the river at peak times on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, from 9.30pm to 3am, and engage with people in distress, maintain lifebelts and, critically, the volunteers save human lives.
“I also wish to avail of this opportunity to commend the exemplary volunteers who provide an educational programme on water safety and suicide awareness to local schools, workplaces and community groups. In addition, Foyle Search and Rescue facilitates the North West Bereaved by Suicide Support Group, which assists families and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide. May God continue to bless these local heroes in their work,” he continued.
The chairman of Foyle Search and Rescue Stephen Twells said he was “speechless” when he heard the good news.
“Pope Francis’ car will be provide a moral boost to our volunteers at this time, during what has been a very tough year for all of us in the city. I also aware that this gift will be a great comfort to many families here in Derry knowing that we have been recognised by the Holy Father, and by Archbishop Martin, for the work that we do,” Mr Twells said.
Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has shown a preference for a simpler lifestyle and simpler cars. As a cardinal he often took public transport. On the night of his election he rode with the other cardinals in a minibus back to their hotel instead of using a papal limousine.
For trips within the Vatican City he has used a Ford Focus from the Vatican motor pool. He also drove himself around the city in a 30-year-old 1984 Renault 4 presented to him by Italian Fr Renzo Zocca.
The former Mater Dei College was given over to Dublin City Council by the Archdiocese of Dublin last year.
It was completely refurbished into apartments to allow families to move out of hotel accommodation and live and eat together in a more family friendly environment, with appropriate support services in place.