The Pope’s U.S. Visit – 10 Things You Didn’t Know

Pope Francis has been visiting different parts of the world since becoming the Pope. While most of the details about the Pope’s U.S. visit plans have been highlighted on television in the past, there are some facts that you probably didn’t know….

1. The Pope’s plane isn’t really called “Shepard One.”
   The papal plane doesn’t actually have a name. Its designation is usually just Alitalia flight AZ 4000 on the outbound leg, and beyond that Italians simply call it the volo papale, or “papal flight.”
   
2. The Pope does not own the plane.
   The term “Shepherd One” suggests that the pope actually owns a plane, which he doesn’t. Even the term “papal plane” is something of a myth, since the pontiff does not have his own personal aircraft.
   
3. The Pope’s plane is nothing like “Airforce One.”
   Calling the plane “Shepherd One” suggests an analogy with Air Force One, conjuring images to mind of conference rooms with large round tables, a presidential suite, red hotline phones, communications rooms with technicians tracking satellite telemetry, and so on.  Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, the papal plane is a normal commercial jet, and usually the only real perk enjoyed by the pontiff is that he gets to sit in the first row of business class by himself.
   
4. The entourage.
   Known in Italian as the seguito, literally the “following,” the papal party is typically composed of the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin; one or two other cardinals and bishops; 10 priests, most of them officials of the Secretariat of State; and 20 laity, most employees of the Vatican Press Office as well as plainclothes agents of the Vatican security service and the Swiss Guard.
   
5. Bell To Bell.
   Reporters who travel aboard the papal plane are required to take the entire trip from bell to bell, rather than being able to drop out along the way. If someone decides on their own to skip the return leg, for instance, it’s virtually a guarantee they’ll never be allowed to fly with the pope again.
   
6. Travel Costs.
   The World Meeting of Families has estimated the total cost to cover the Pope’s U.S. visit at an estimated $45 Million.
   
7. Lego Logistics.
   Catholic priest Bob Simon used over 500,000 Lego pieces to build a replica of the Vatican in honor of the pope’s visit.
   
8. Accommodations.
   While in NY, the Pope stayed in a five-story, 11,000-square-foot townhouse.
   
9. Food For Thought.
   While traveling in the US, the Pope did not get to consume a mouthwatering cheesesteak in Philadelphia or a crispy, greasy slice of NY pizza. Instead, he  followed his doctor prescribed diet of fish, white rice, bananas and water.
   
10. Adding to the souvenir collection.
    The Pope really doesn’t have a need for souvenirs from places he visits. As pope, the pontiff does not actually own anything, though he has custodianship of the Church’s fortune during his reign. Everything and anything the pope needs or wants is provided for him. So no need for that “I Love NY” fridge magnet, because that’s not really his fridge anyway.