Fiat Ducato Panorama for the Pope's Abruzzo Visit

For the visit Pope Benedict the XVIth made yesterday to the Abruzzo region in Italy, the area struck by the 6.3 magnitude earthquake, Fiat has made available a special version of the Ducato Panorama. After scrutinizing the area from an helicopter, the Pope took the Ducato to visit the tent city of survivors, in an effort to raise hope for the people struck by the tragedy.

The car, built at the Sevel Val di Sangro, the site of the Fiat PSA joint venture, was commissioned for the Civil Defense for the transport of the Pope. This initiative has come as a result of the collaboration the Fiat Group has with the respective organization. The goal of the partnership is giving emergency services all the tools they require for a fast intervention.

The car is a unique version of the Ducato, specially developed for the visit. The car's body is painted in white and boasts the logo of the Civil Defense. The interior is also white, this time thanks to the leather used for all of the seven seats. The Ducato is fitted with rearview camera and according to the manufacturer, with the most advanced security systems.

The Pope will visit Onna, the Basilica di Collemaggio, the ruins of Casa dello Studente and the Scuola della Guardia di Finanza di Coppito. The Pope will make this trip to bring "hope and the church's expression of solidarity, which it had already shown from the start by intensely sharing in the sorrow of the stricken people," as Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone was quoted as saying by boston.com