Unlike American presidents, Pope Leo XIV travels on commercial charter flights rather than a private jet. Operated by ITA Airways, the flight—colloquially known as 'Shepherd One'—follows strict protocols. Senior cabin manager Gennaro Anastasio, who has led crews on over 80 papal flights, briefs the team on rules: no selfies, no kissing the pope’s hand, and addressing clergy correctly as 'Eminenza' for cardinals or 'Eccellenza' for bishops.
The crew must anticipate every need without refusal. The Vatican owns no dedicated aircraft, relying instead on competitive tenders won by ITA, which loses money on these flights but gains invaluable prestige. The papal plane, using call sign AZ4000, is prioritized globally for punctuality.
Journalists fly in economy, where seat backs are draped with antimacassars embroidered with the pope’s coat of arms. Flights depart from Fiumicino’s VIP terminal under Swiss Guard and military police supervision. Despite recent lung cancer surgery, Pope Leo has been cleared to travel.
His upcoming 12-day journey to Latin America underscores the symbolic weight of these commercial voyages.
Source: New York Times Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing