Up in the Clouds With the Pope, It’s Still Commercial

A day before Pope Leo XIV departed for France in September, on the fourth major international trip of his papacy, the crew of the plane he was to use, known colloquially as “Shepherd One,” gathered to learn the inviolable rules of the flight.

No selfies with the pope, said Gennaro Anastasio, the senior cabin manager, as he reeled off a list of dos and don’ts.

If the Holy Father offers his hand, shake it, don’t kiss it. Make no personal requests of the pontiff, such as asking that he pray for family members. Check the bathroom at the front of the plane — the one used by the pope — several times throughout the flight and keep it spotless. Don’t speak directly to the pope, but talk to his personal secretaries.

And mind your language. The men wearing black robes with red sashes and skullcaps should be addressed as “eminenza,” the salutation for cardinals, the highest-ranking clergy except for the pope. The men in purple caps and sashes are bishops and should be greeted as “eccellenza.”

“Don’t mess up,” said Mr. Anastasio, an impish 67-year-old. “If, though, you call a bishop ‘eminenza,’ he’ll say, ‘No I’m not an eminenza,’” he added with a chuckle. “And you can say, ‘You’ll become one!’”