Vatican protocol dictates that whenever the Pope travels abroad by air, the specially chartered commercial flight is officially designated by air traffic control as Shepherd One.

A closer look

Vatican protocol dictates that whenever the Pope travels abroad by air, the specially chartered commercial flight is officially designated by air traffic control as Shepherd One. There is no private papal jet waiting in a secret hangar, instead the Catholic Church simply rents a standard airliner from Italy's national carrier, rips out a few rows of economy seating to make room for the pontiff, and rebrands the entire tube. Once the Pope disembarks, the plane immediately reverts to flying regular, exhausted tourists who have absolutely no idea they are sitting in a recently holy environment. It is a wonderfully pragmatic approach to divine transportation, saving millions of dollars in private jet maintenance while simultaneously ensuring that the supreme pontiff technically has to endure the exact same boarding process as someone flying budget class to Ibiza