Latam Cargo has completed a special air cargo operation to transport two armored vehicles to Peru, in anticipation of the visit of Pope Leo XIV to the country later this month. The vehicles were shipped Monday from Brazil to Lima in an agreement with Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in coordination with General Motors.

The two Chevrolet popemobiles, each weighing around three tons, were transported by a Latam Cargo Boeing 767-300 freighter. The aircraft took off from Viracopos International Airport, São Paulo, and delivered the vehicles to the Peruvian capital.

The cars, built at the General Motors plant in São Bernardo do Campo, outside São Paulo, have been specially adapted for the Pope to travel in. They are equipped with protective, bullet-proof glass and therefore their dimensions, weight and handling requirements are particularly demanding.

Latam Cargo said the operation needed extra preparation and specialized procedures to ensure the vehicles could be loaded, secured and transported safely. It took six to eight hours just to get the airport ramp ready.

There were also a number of technical difficulties in moving the vehicles. The airline had to figure out how to balance the weight inside the plane, how to secure the units to the cargo platforms with special tie-down systems, and how to load them with hydraulic equipment.

Such was the scale of the operation that it took about 20 people at each end of the journey to load and unload. Additional security measures were also taken throughout the transport process.

This shipment is tied to Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to Latin America. The pontiff is due to visit Peru between Nov. 11 and 17, part of a 12-day trip that will also take him to Uruguay and Argentina.

The Vatican said the Pope will visit four cities, celebrate Mass, meet local church communities and have engagements with civil authorities during his stay in Peru.

Latam, South America’s largest airline, has a well-established cargo network operated by a dedicated freighter division which currently has 19 converted Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

Why It’s Important

The difficulties associated with specialized air cargo operations are visible in the need to transport the vehicles for a papal visit. Not just the routine handling of freight, but precise weight calculations, specialized loading equipment, additional security arrangements and organized teams. It shows how airfreight services are vital to major international events, carrying sensitive and specialist cargo in difficult operational conditions.