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GuanYuWarGod
Guest
I find it odd that the Vatican would approve of that. Nothing sinful with that but it’s odd that it has invested in a business.
Vatican airline takes to the skies
By Cristiano Corvino
Mon Aug 27, 11:32 AM ET
ROME (Reuters) - While some passengers only turn to prayer when jolted by turbulence, the Vatican made it standard on Monday by launching the world’s first airline for Catholic pilgrims.
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Complete with Vatican logos on headrests and air hostesses’ uniforms, the inaugural flight traveled from Rome’s Fiumicino airport for the shrine of Lourdes in France.
The charter flight’s slogan spoke volumes about what its clients are doing above the clouds: “I’m Searching for Your Face, Lord.”
“It is a spiritual journey,” explained Francesco Gherra, one of the pilgrims who boarded Monday’s inaugural flight hosted by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the former head of Italy’s bishops.
The Vatican aims to serve 150,000 pilgrims a year on its chartered Boeing 737, run by Italy’s Mistral Air.
Destinations range from the shrine of Fatima in Portugal to Mount Sinai in Egypt, where Moses is said to have received the 10 Commandments from God.
In-flight entertainment on the way to the world’s holy sites will, somewhat predictably, be religious in nature, the Vatican said.
“The crew has been informed that there are (religious) messages that will be transmitted, that films will be shown during the flight,” said Father Cesar Atuire at the Vatican office coordinating pilgrimages.
Keeping costs for pilgrims low is another Vatican priority, Atuire said.
The Vatican’s venture into the airline industry did not go unnoticed by competitors, including Ryanair, Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier.
The Vatican hopes to fly pilgrims from Rome to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a route already serviced by the low-budget carrier.
“Ryanair already performs miracles that even the Pope’s boss can’t rival, by delivering pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela for the heavenly price of 10 euros,” Ryanair said in a statement.
(Additional reporting by Paul Hoskins in Dublin)
Air Mistral greets you to Mount Sinai!
→ There is an airport there?!?
Vatican airline takes to the skies
By Cristiano Corvino
Mon Aug 27, 11:32 AM ET
ROME (Reuters) - While some passengers only turn to prayer when jolted by turbulence, the Vatican made it standard on Monday by launching the world’s first airline for Catholic pilgrims.
ADVERTISEMENT
Complete with Vatican logos on headrests and air hostesses’ uniforms, the inaugural flight traveled from Rome’s Fiumicino airport for the shrine of Lourdes in France.
The charter flight’s slogan spoke volumes about what its clients are doing above the clouds: “I’m Searching for Your Face, Lord.”
“It is a spiritual journey,” explained Francesco Gherra, one of the pilgrims who boarded Monday’s inaugural flight hosted by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the former head of Italy’s bishops.
The Vatican aims to serve 150,000 pilgrims a year on its chartered Boeing 737, run by Italy’s Mistral Air.
Destinations range from the shrine of Fatima in Portugal to Mount Sinai in Egypt, where Moses is said to have received the 10 Commandments from God.
In-flight entertainment on the way to the world’s holy sites will, somewhat predictably, be religious in nature, the Vatican said.
“The crew has been informed that there are (religious) messages that will be transmitted, that films will be shown during the flight,” said Father Cesar Atuire at the Vatican office coordinating pilgrimages.
Keeping costs for pilgrims low is another Vatican priority, Atuire said.
The Vatican’s venture into the airline industry did not go unnoticed by competitors, including Ryanair, Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier.
The Vatican hopes to fly pilgrims from Rome to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a route already serviced by the low-budget carrier.
“Ryanair already performs miracles that even the Pope’s boss can’t rival, by delivering pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela for the heavenly price of 10 euros,” Ryanair said in a statement.
(Additional reporting by Paul Hoskins in Dublin)
Air Mistral greets you to Mount Sinai!
→ There is an airport there?!?
M
Milliardo
Guest
I would love to take this if they have international flights. 
And what, pray tell, is so odd about a nation-state investing in a LOW COST, PILGRIM airline for the CONVENIENCE of CATHOLIC PILGRIMS to make trips to HOLY SITES?
C
childofmary1143
Guest
That is an airline that I would have to take sometime!!
C
childofmary1143
Guest
africa.reuters.com/odd/news/usnL29156447.html
How the H E double hockey sticks can Holy Water be considered a threat. How ridiculous is that?
How the H E double hockey sticks can Holy Water be considered a threat. How ridiculous is that?
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GuanYuWarGod
Guest
Nothing wrong of course, but, well, it’s perhaps something you wouldn’t expect to happen.
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NancyS
Guest
It is just as threatening as mouthwash and shampoo! Pack it in your checked luggage if you want to bring it, like everyone else does!!!
Irritating, but they those are the rules.
Irritating, but they those are the rules.
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Bruno_esqueXXII
Guest
ANY liquid over the restricted amount is a violation of the rules. I don’t think there should be exceptions – they could have easily packed it in their check in luggage.
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lizaanne
Guest
I have absolutely no issues with the current restrictions, and think it should apply to ALL liquids - holy water does not rate as requiring an exemption.
If it keeps us safe, I’ll put my holy water in my checked bags or post it to myself at home.
~Liza
If it keeps us safe, I’ll put my holy water in my checked bags or post it to myself at home.
~Liza
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childofmary1143
Guest
I guess its not that ridiculous when you put it that way. Why wouldn’t they check it?
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mariner
Guest
remember Jesus Christ Airlines?
newstatesman.com/200202250022
newstatesman.com/200202250022
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Paul_Young
Guest
May God bless this airline, Amen!
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Brendan
Guest
And their motto?
“God really IS our co-pilot”
“God really IS our co-pilot”
I
IrishAm
Guest
From The Telegraph in London . . .
telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/29/wvatican129.xml
‘Vatican air’ passengers’ holy water confiscated
By Malcolm Moore in Rome
Last Updated: 2:54am BST 31/08/2007
The passengers on board the Vatican’s first flight to Lourdes may have been pilgrims in search of spiritual healing, but they still had to obey anti-terrorism rules, it has emerged, after several of them had their holy water confiscated.
Headrests read: ‘I search for your face, oh Lord’
The Vatican’s new service, a Boeing 737 painted in yellow-and-white papal livery, took off from Rome’s Fiumicino airport on Monday, serving swordfish canapes to 148 pilgrims reclining on headrests stamped with the message: “I search for your face, oh Lord”.
While the outward journey was smooth, turbulence struck on the return when anti-terror rules were strictly applied by the French police.
No bottles containing more than 100ml of liquid were allowed on board unless checked in, meaning passengers were forced give up the holy water they had just collected at Lourdes.
Many hoped to ferry the water back to sick relatives.
Instead, dozens of plastic containers in the shape of the Madonna were left at security, while one man decided to drink all of his.
One passenger drank all of his holy water rather than discard it
“I did tell others that their containers would not be allowed. Those who travel a lot know that they do not make exceptions,” said Massimo Barra, head of the Red Cross in Italy, who was on board.
Monsignor Liberio Andreatta, the official on board from the Vatican’s travel agency, did not even try to argue with the rules, to the dismay of the pilgrims.
Many passengers asked the police how they could be foolhardy enough to throw away the miraculous water, according to the Corriere della Sera newspaper.
The spring at the sanctuary at Lourdes, where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared in 1858, is famed for its miraculous healing powers, and every day long queues of believers wait to fill up their containers.
The water is so valuable that one French website, www.lourdes-water.com, is offering a litre for £64.
Despite the hiccup, the new service cut down an difficult overland pilgrimage to two hours.
Cardinal Ruini, the former head of the Italian bishops, was on board, along with Luciano Moggi, the disgraced former head of Juventus football club, who was seeking some spiritual comfort.
The Vatican has promised that seats would cost at least 10 per cent less than the industry average, and that some pilgrims may be able to fly to Lourdes and back in the same day.
It also wants to expand its service to routes such as Fatima in Portugal, Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and possibly even Jerusalem.
Mistral Air, the charter company which is providing the planes for the Vatican, said it expects to transport 150,000 pilgrims annually.
Information appearing on telegraph.co.uk is the copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited and must not be reproduced in any medium without licence. For the full copyright statement see Copyright
telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/29/wvatican129.xml
‘Vatican air’ passengers’ holy water confiscated
By Malcolm Moore in Rome
Last Updated: 2:54am BST 31/08/2007
The passengers on board the Vatican’s first flight to Lourdes may have been pilgrims in search of spiritual healing, but they still had to obey anti-terrorism rules, it has emerged, after several of them had their holy water confiscated.
Headrests read: ‘I search for your face, oh Lord’
The Vatican’s new service, a Boeing 737 painted in yellow-and-white papal livery, took off from Rome’s Fiumicino airport on Monday, serving swordfish canapes to 148 pilgrims reclining on headrests stamped with the message: “I search for your face, oh Lord”.
While the outward journey was smooth, turbulence struck on the return when anti-terror rules were strictly applied by the French police.
No bottles containing more than 100ml of liquid were allowed on board unless checked in, meaning passengers were forced give up the holy water they had just collected at Lourdes.
Many hoped to ferry the water back to sick relatives.
Instead, dozens of plastic containers in the shape of the Madonna were left at security, while one man decided to drink all of his.
One passenger drank all of his holy water rather than discard it
“I did tell others that their containers would not be allowed. Those who travel a lot know that they do not make exceptions,” said Massimo Barra, head of the Red Cross in Italy, who was on board.
Monsignor Liberio Andreatta, the official on board from the Vatican’s travel agency, did not even try to argue with the rules, to the dismay of the pilgrims.
Many passengers asked the police how they could be foolhardy enough to throw away the miraculous water, according to the Corriere della Sera newspaper.
The spring at the sanctuary at Lourdes, where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared in 1858, is famed for its miraculous healing powers, and every day long queues of believers wait to fill up their containers.
The water is so valuable that one French website, www.lourdes-water.com, is offering a litre for £64.
Despite the hiccup, the new service cut down an difficult overland pilgrimage to two hours.
Cardinal Ruini, the former head of the Italian bishops, was on board, along with Luciano Moggi, the disgraced former head of Juventus football club, who was seeking some spiritual comfort.
The Vatican has promised that seats would cost at least 10 per cent less than the industry average, and that some pilgrims may be able to fly to Lourdes and back in the same day.
It also wants to expand its service to routes such as Fatima in Portugal, Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and possibly even Jerusalem.
Mistral Air, the charter company which is providing the planes for the Vatican, said it expects to transport 150,000 pilgrims annually.
Information appearing on telegraph.co.uk is the copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited and must not be reproduced in any medium without licence. For the full copyright statement see Copyright
P
PoliSciProf
Guest
This makes me think of money changers in the temple. I really think the Vatican has no business doing this.
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Brendan
Guest
Why should’nt the Vatican State Government have a national airline?
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Milliardo
Guest
I don’t see anything wrong with this; the money changers were after all driven out by Jesus because they defiled the Temple with their activities, something that is not even remotely in comparison with having an airline.
K
KathleenElsie
Guest
Well when they land in the Vatican Court Yard
and demand that everyone uses them then I will agree with you.Till then. God Bless this endeavor. I hope someday to be able to afford to go to Rome and other places for a pilgrimage.
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