Inside the 'Flying Vatican': How ITA Airways Charters Full-Size Jets for Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV made his first overseas trip on a chartered, full-size passenger airliner rather than a private jet, using an ITA Airways Airbus A320neo for a November 27–December 2 visit to Turkey and Lebanon. The aircraft, configured as a mobile hub for the pontiff and his entourage, carried clergy, security personnel, Vatican staff and international journalists while ITA supplied the crew and handled flight planning and logistics.

How the papal charter works

The Vatican does not operate its own airline or airport, so popes traveling abroad typically charter commercial airliners. For this mission, ITA Airways — the Italian flag carrier that succeeded Alitalia in 2021 and sold a 41% stake to the Lufthansa Group in 2025 — provided a 180-seat A320neo. ITA negotiated its role as the informal “papal airline” and coordinates airports, schedules and on-the-ground support for these missions.

Aircraft, configuration and crew

The A320neo used on this trip is more fuel-efficient than earlier narrowbodies, emitting roughly 20% less CO2 per passenger. For longer-range trips or larger delegations, the pope sometimes travels on an A330neo widebody, which offers more premium seating and lie-flat business-class berths. On the A320neo, the forward section is typically set up as a basic premium block — essentially economy-style seats with blocked middles — while the A330neo can feature wider premium-economy recliners and true business-class beds.

A typical papal flight crew on these charters includes multiple pilots and a team of flight attendants; on this mission the aircraft is staffed by three pilots and seven flight attendants. Journalists who travel with the pope usually sit in economy, while the pope and his immediate delegation occupy the premium cabins up front. ITA staff often dress cabins in Vatican colors and the pope’s staff brings personal items such as ceremonial dishes and the pontifical coat of arms.

Costs and who pays

State visits involving a pope can run into the tens of millions of dollars because of aircraft charter costs, accommodation, ground transportation and extensive security needs. The host nation typically covers most of these expenses because a papal trip is treated like a state visit: the pope is both a religious leader and the head of the sovereign Vatican City State. The Vatican’s own responsibilities usually include travel arrangements for some clergy, providing religious texts and ceremonial items, and organizing liturgical events and meetings during the visit.

Historical context and protocol

The practice of flying popes began in 1964, when a McDonnell Douglas DC-8 carried Pope Paul VI to Jordan — the first time a sitting pope had flown and left Italy since the 19th century. Alitalia carried popes for decades and assigned those flights a special flight number; ITA has continued the tradition since its founding. Airlines and governments have occasionally offset costs through sponsorship or by charging premium fares to journalists who want to travel on charters.

"We have to cancel all of our other appointments, focusing on the expectation that we are there to shake hands," said ITA CEO Jeorg Eberhart, describing the airline's protocol when the pope travels.

For his first official trip, Pope Leo XIV departed from Rome’s main international airport — not a private terminal — flew to Ankara, continued to Istanbul, and was scheduled to proceed to Beirut. The aircraft and support teams are arranged to ensure security, protocol and the flexible needs of a traveling papal household.