At a special presentation ceremony, Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State and President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, was handed the Leaf’s key.

The zero emissions Leaf will be used in the daily public affairs of Cardinal Bertello and other members of the Holy See.

The donation follows the launch of the Vatican’s Laudato si’ Action Platform to make Catholic institutions environmentally sustainable within seven years, which takes its name from the pope’s landmark 2015 encyclical on the environment.

Nissan recently announced that it will triple the amount of renewable energy generated at its Sunderland plant in Europe, which produces the Nissan Leaf, to meet 20 percent of the plant’s electrical demand. This makes it possible to manufacture all Leaf EVs sold in Europe with renewable energy.

As part of its global commitment towards carbon neutrality, Nissan has set a goal of providing electric powertrains to all models it sells in Europe by the end of 2023. In the future, the lineup of electric vehicles will be launched by launching the new Qashqai and X-Trail, both equipped with e-Power. Nissan’s first EV SUV, the Ariya will also be offered.