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The Pope’s new wheels

Francis X. Rocca

Pope Benedict took possession yesterday of a pair of brand-new DR5 SUVs, given to him by the Italian automaker DR.

“These cars are very beautiful, very beautiful, my compliments,” Benedict said with his characteristic politeness.

According to one automotive Website, the DR5 has an Italian engine but a body made in China.


One wonders: in accepting the gift, was the pope perhaps sending a symbolic message to Beijing about his hopes for finally reuniting the official Chinese Catholic church with the “underground” church loyal to Rome?

On the other hand, sometimes an SUV is just an SUV.

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