Pope Francis' Fiat 500 is dwarfed by giant security vehicles on his US visit

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The 78-year-old pontiff landed in Washington on Tuesday at 4pm (Eastern Time) for his first ever visit to the US
He flew from Cuba, where he urged the Communist-run island to maintain good relations with its strong neighbor
President Obama, Michelle and their daughters Malia and Sasha met Francis when he landed at St Andrews base
The pope's drove off in a modest Fiat 500 while the President traveled in his $1million armored vehicle - The Beast
Social media users praised the Catholic leader's 'humble' choice of vehicle calling it 'refreshing' and 'down to earth'

Published: 18:28 EST, 22 September 2015 | Updated: 23:31 EST, 22 September 2015

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There was no fancy limousine for Pope Francis on his first visit to the United States after he chose to ride in a tiny Fiat 500, while the President was driven off from their meeting in his giant $1million armored car The Beast.

The 78-year-old Roman Catholic leader is in the United States for the first time for a five-day tour across D.C., New York and Philadelphia, coinciding with the United Nations summit which will see more than 100 world leaders arrive in New York.

On his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, President Barack Obama greeted the pontiff and introduced him to his family and Vice President Joe Biden before they walked down the line of dignitaries. The pair then got into separate motorcades.

Known for being humble and unassuming, the pontiff was driven away in the tiny Fiat 500 which was dwarfed by its security vehicles, while President Obama traveled in 'The Beast', his gigantic bomb-proof General Motors Cadillac with eight-inch thick armor-plating on its doors.

Dwarfed: The pope's modest Fiat 500 appears tiny next to the security service's suburban cars which flank it during the motorcade

The pope, who arrived in the U.S. earlier this afternoon had disembarked his plane from Cuba to be met by President Obama before getting in his Fiat

The pope was driven away in the tiny Italian car, surrounded by security vehicles with snipers, while the president departed in his own motorcade

Pope Francis vs President Obama: The pontiff's Fiat 500 appears particularly small compared to The Beast - Obama's heavily armored car

The President's 'Beast' comes with a series of safety features including armor plating, bullet-proof glass and even its own oxygen supply

The car, worth over $1million, is 18ft in length, weighs 8 tons and has 8in thick armor plating on its doors.

By comparison, Pope Francis' tiny Fiat 500, which is just 11ft 7in long and costs less than $20,000.

His simple Fiat is a reflection on Francis' stand on consumerism and aim to focus less on material goods and more on the poor.

But his latest choice of vehicle as he visited the world's wealthiest nation has left him denying he has left-leaning tendencies.

During the flight, Francis defended claims that his stance against mass consumerism and trickle-down economics makes him a communist, AP reported.

'I am certain that I have never said anything beyond what is in the social doctrine of the church,' he said. He said some may have misinterpreted his writings in a way that makes him sound 'a little bit more left-leaning,' but he said that's wrong.

Since succeeding Pope Benedict in 2013, the former cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina has eschewed some of the more ostentatious trappings of his office and has chosen to live in a Vatican guest house rather than the opulent papal apartments.

He has also picked more modest vehicles than his German predecessor who had a preference for a luxury Mercedes Popemobile.

In 2013, he even called on priests to stop driving flashy cars and pick something more 'humble'.

He said: 'A car is necessary to do a lot of work, but please, choose a more humble one. If you like the fancy one, just think about how many children are dying of hunger in the world.

Pope Francis on the other hand, who is known for travelling in the open popemobile, departed in a small black Fiat

The South American Pope gives a wave to the crowds from his car after arriving in the U.S. on his first ever visit to the Unites States

Pope Francis sat and waited in a Fiat 500L before his motorcade departed from Andrews Air Force Base this afternoon

Crowds had arrived at the airport to cheer on the 78-year-old pope as he left the airport in the tiny Fiat surrounded by security

The economical car may be seen as a message on climate change - which will be the focus of his speech before the United Nations where he is expected to implore the General Assembly to take much more aggressive steps to curb greenhouse-gas emissions.

The Argentinian pontiff previously sent out an unprecedented encyclical calling for a 'fundamental change of course to protect the earth and its people'.

During his trip, he will also be chauffeured in a Jeep Wrangler Popemobile, also manufactured by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Fiat USA tweeted, '#blessed' after the pope's vehicle departed for the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's mission in Washington.

The license plate on the Fiat reads SCV 1, which means Vatican City 1. SCV stands for Status Civitatis Vaticanae, Latin for Vatican City State.

While the President's Cadillac One, nicknamed 'The Beast', was specially built for him by the General Motors GM.N and even boasts its own oxygen supply in case of chemical attack and puncture resistant, run-flat tires reinforced with Kevlar.

It also features a panic button and an armored and insulated fuel tank to prevent it exploding even if it suffers a direct hit.

With enough space for four passengers in the back, the car is driven by a U.S. Secret service chauffeur trained to drive in the most challenging of conditions and perform maneuvers such as a 180 degree turn called a J-turn.

The doors have eight inches of armor-plating and weighs the same as the cabin door of a Boeing 7474 while the windows will stand armor-piercing bullets.

The pope's tiny Fiat 500, appeared even smaller compared to the half a dozen security vehicle as the pontiff was driven to his next engagement

Pope Francis was travelling to the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican's diplomatic mission in the heart of Washington

Pope Francis arrives in a Fiat 500 car (2nd R) to the Vatican Embassy bringing to Washington a message that its power and wealth should be used to serve humanity, and not the other way around

The Argentine-born leader will then parade past major monuments before a crowd expected to number well into the tens of thousands.

Francis' visit will also include the first address by any pope to the U.S. Congress on Thursday, a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday and an open-air Mass in Philadelphia where 1.5 million people were expected to attend.

'The holy father said Philadelphia and our gathering here are the central reason for his visit to the United States,' said Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput. 'His visit here is an irreplaceable moment.'

A massive security presence is planned in all three cities, with special measures in place across 4.5 square miles (11.7 square kilometers) of Philadelphia on Sunday.

'This is going to be one of the largest lifts in the nation's history for national security events,' James Yacone, assistant director of the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group, told reporters this week. 'That all has to be very skillfully thought out - how we're going to protect him, allow access of the public at different venues, and do it in such a manner that law enforcement can screen as many people as possible to keep it secure.'

Social media users praised the pope for his 'humble' choice of vehicle.

Will McDonald said:'The Pope humbles himself. Instead of some fancy limousine....he rides in a little Fiat!'

While Dominic tweeted: 'The Pope is riding around in a Fiat! He really seems like a humble, down-to-earth kind of guy. #PopeInDC

One Twitter user added: 'The average celeb has fancy car service. the Pope...a fiat.'

The pope's arrival has also been something of a blessing for Fiat USA who tweeted: 'His Holiness knows how to make an entrance.'

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet Pope Francis upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base

All smiles: President Obama and Pope Francis were happy to pose for pictures together upon the pontiff'sarrival at Andrews Air Force Base

Michelle also spoke with the pope, who speaks limited English. He is expected to give most of his speeches in Spanish during the visit

Pope Francis is in the United States for a five-day tour including Washington, New York and Philadelphia and will also address Congress

The President and his family had honored Pope Francis by meeting him at Joint Base Andrews. Normally guests are required to come to the White House

It also has night-vision cameras, pump-action shotguns and tear gas cannons. Bottles of the president's blood are kept on-board in case he needs a transfusion and the trunk holds an oxygen supply.

Francis had arrived from Cuba, where he urged a continued reconciliation between the Communist-run island and its superpower neighbor. He helped broker the landmark diplomatic deal between America and Cuba in December last year.

His decision to go from Cuba to the world's most powerful and richest nation is symbolic as he implores the Church to embrace outsiders.

Cindy Wooden, Rome bureau chief for Catholic News Service, was on board the Washington-bound plane with the pope, who told her about his time in Cuba, denying suggestions he is a 'liberal' or 'Leftie'. 'I have never said anything more than what is in church social teaching,' he said.

Obama and Francis will meet again on Wednesday at the White House.

The Argentine-born leader will then parade past major monuments before a crowd expected to number well into the tens of thousands.

Hundreds of steel crowd-control fences and dozens of portable toilets had been put in place by Tuesday morning near the Washington Monument along the route and Vatican flags hung on light poles.

The pope has electrified liberal-leaning U.S. Catholics with his shift in emphasis towards forgiveness and concern for the poor.

But he has also dismayed some conservative followers with comments of concern over climate change and a pivot away from messages focused on the church's ban on birth control and opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage.

'It would be a tragedy if the pope and the Catholic church bought into the standards of society and fell away from the eternal truth of humanity,' said Margaret Uglow, 74, as she paused on her way into a lunchtime mass at a Washington church. 'We see all around us the sorrowful results of society's standards.'

Francis, on his first visit to the United States, was also expected to talk about immigration, a top issue for him since his first days as pope in 2013.

Immigration has become a hot-button topic during early stages of the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign with Republican front-runner Donald Trump and other candidates proposing building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to stem crossings and ending birthright citizenship.

'He's bringing to the fore some of the most important issues of the day facing humanity, focusing on the dignity of the person, the dignity of all persons,' said Elizabeth Defeis, professor of international law at Seton Hall University and an adviser to the Holy See's permanent observer mission to the United Nations.

'He is such a popular figure, and the combination of his charisma and the platform that he will be speaking from will help bring all these issues to the forefront,' Defeis said.

Francis was also likely to be criticized for the Church's handling of a scandal over clergy sex abuse of minors and its treatment of gay, lesbian and transgender Catholics.

A poll released on Monday showed that 51 percent of Americans viewed Francis favorably, with just 9 percent of respondents to an MSNBC/Telemundo/Marist poll reporting an unfavorable view.