Expect sales of the Ford Focus to zoom because the model just got a poster boy who has 1.2 billion followers. Pope Francis arrived on Monday at the papal summer residence Castel Gandolfo aboard a Ford Focus, which costs $16,000.

Unlike other commercial models who are paid millions to endorse a product even if in real life they don't use it, the pope being the car's unofficial endorser would have a big impact on people who would see in the act another instance of the pontiff doing what he preaches.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church last week just called for more simple choices for the clergy, saying, "It hurts me when I see a priest or nun with the latest-model car. You can't do this. 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 how many children are dying of hunger in the world."

A Colombian priest actually followed the pope's advice last week and said he would sell the white Mercedes-Benz E200 convertible that his four brothers gifted him with.

In contrast, his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, had three luxury vehicles - a custom-made Renault, a BMW X5 and a Mercedes.

The Ford Focus is actually an upgrade for Pope Francis who used to take public transportation even during the papal election in March. He has also eschewed living in a palace, using a gold chair and wearing red Prada shoes.