From Assembly Line to Divine: Meet the Ford Worker Behind the New Pope Mobile

CHICAGO (WLS) — It’s not every day that you find yourself connected to someone who ascends to the papacy.

Adarthus Harper, a resident of Chicago’s South Side, fondly recalls a man he once knew simply as Father Bob. Now an inspector at Ford Motor’s Chicago Assembly Plant, Harper graduated from St. Rita Cascia High School in 1986, where his math and physics teacher was none other than the future Pope Leo XIV.

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“When he was elected pope, I thought, wait a minute, I know him,” Harper recounted. “It just clicked in my mind. Seeing him in that position was unbelievable.”

Harper played a pivotal role in the development of a custom Ford Explorer Pope Mobile, infused with elements unique to Chicago. This special vehicle was later gifted to the pope by Ford’s president.

“Here at Chicago Assembly, we’re all about hard work,” Harper said proudly. “The pope received a world-class vehicle crafted by some of the best at the Chicago Assembly Plant.”

The honor of delivering a vehicle to a pope is captured in a letter of appreciation, going along with the truck on behalf of all Chicago Assembly staff, according to Harper’s colleague.

“Chicago Assembly has provided a way of life for thousands of families over the years, and we have thousands of families right now, so this kind of stuff this kind of event to do something special for the pope is exciting for everybody here,” said Walter Simkus, final area manager for Chicago Assembly.

Harper wants the pope to know that St. Rita is where he discovered his faith. The all-boys Augustinian school maintains close ties with Pope Leo, who is considered a legend.

“I love my religion, first of all, and without the faith Saint Rita instilled in me, of course, I’ve had some hard times in my life, but today, you know, I am doing very well for myself, and once again, I thank Chicago Assembly Plant and the great people here that I work with,” Harper said.