Pope to Use Modified Golf Cart for Narrow Streets During Tenerife Visit
Organizers have commissioned a custom-modified golf cart from the Royal Tenerife Golf Club to transport the Pope through the narrow historic streets of La Laguna during his visit on June 12.
For Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to Tenerife on June 12, organizers have found a creative solution to navigate the narrow streets of La Laguna’s historic center. The Royal Tenerife Golf Club has provided a specially modified golf cart to ensure the Pope can travel safely through the city’s tightest corridors.
Because the historic streets of Viana and San Agustín are too narrow for the traditional "popemobile," this custom vehicle—built to meet strict Vatican and diocesan safety standards—features a rear platform and secure handrails, allowing the Pope to stand and greet the public safely.
The visit begins at 10:10 a.m. following an event at Plaza del Cristo focused on migrant support. The route is designed to bring the Pope as close to the public as possible, with designated areas near the Hospital de Dolores for the elderly and sick. The path also passes by the Poor Clares and Dominican convents, allowing the Pope to greet the nuns directly.
The Pope is scheduled to reach the Episcopal Palace at 11:30 a.m. After a brief break, he will travel by closed car to the La Salle-San Ildefonso school. There, he will switch to the standard popemobile—brought over from Gran Canaria—to head to the port esplanade for the final mass of his Spanish visit.
Consuelo López de Vergara, president of the Royal Tenerife Golf Club, noted that this collaboration is a significant milestone for the organization. More than just a technical fix, the modified vehicle represents a unique way to balance Vatican security requirements with the charm of a World Heritage city, ensuring the Pope can remain close to the people he is visiting.