ROMA — Recovering from recent surgery, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to depart on a three-nation tour of South America on the 6th.

For this journey, the pontiff will board flight AZ4000, operated by Italy’s flagship carrier, ITA Airways (the successor to Alitalia). Unlike the U.S. president, who maintains a dedicated, permanent presidential aircraft like Air Force One, the Vatican does not own a permanent papal plane. While tradition often dictates that outbound papal flights utilize ITA while return trips are accommodated by the host nation's national airline, schedules and operational conditions remain flexible.

ITA is frequently chosen to operate the papal charter, though not exclusively. The Vatican selects the flight operator through an open bidding process. Jorg Eberhart, CEO of ITA, noted in an interview with The New York Times that while the company regularly participates in these tenders, operating the papal flight actually results in financial losses. However, ITA willingly absorbs these costs, embracing the role for its immense symbolic value and brand prestige.

When carrying the Pope, the charter flight proudly adopts the honorary call sign "Shepherd One." This moniker blends "Shepherd"—referring to the pontiff who guides Catholics worldwide—with "One," inspired by the U.S. presidential call sign Air Force One. The call sign was famously used during Pope Francis's historic visit to the United States in 2015.

Shepherd One operates under an unwritten rule of absolute punctuality. According to the Times, while more than half of ITA’s regular commercial flights suffered delays last year, the papal charter almost always departs right on time.

Unlike standard commercial flights, Shepherd One is exempt from typical carry-on luggage restrictions. As the aircraft taxis to the runway, flight attendants omit standard announcements and safety video demonstrations to allow accompanying journalists to work quietly and freely. Every seat on the plane—including the economy section reserved for traveling press—features a small linen headrest cover called an antimassar, elegantly embroidered with the papal coat of arms.

The Pope sits in the business class cabin, and in a tradition established in recent years, meals are served uniformly across all passengers without distinction.

Gennaro Anastasio, a 67-year-old veteran purser for ITA who has managed cabin service on more than 80 papal overseas flights, recalled to the Times that under Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, the pontiff and his entourage enjoyed luxury meals, while journalists and general Vatican staff were served standard economy airline food.

That practice changed with Pope Francis. Anastasio recounted an incident where Pope Francis visited the clergy dining area in the cabin and asked what the journalists were eating. Upon being shown a standard economy tray, the Pope remarked, "I am not a king," and mandated that from then on, journalists and clergy share the exact same meals.

Nevertheless, Anastasio noted a few personal touches: knowing Pope Francis loved his native Argentine lemon cookies, he made sure to stock them on every papal flight. He also recalled that Pope Francis would occasionally request risotto garnished with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and Amalfi lemons.

Asked by Times reporters whether Pope Leo XIV had made any special requests ahead of this upcoming South American tour, Anastasio replied that there had been none so far, describing the new pontiff as "truly down-to-earth."

[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]