VATICAN:The Vatican yesterday launched the world's first airline for Catholic pilgrims, with an inaugural flight from Rome's Fiumicino airport to the Lourdes shrine in France.
Complete with Vatican logos on headrests and air hostesses' uniforms, the charter's slogan was: "I'm Searching for Your Face, Lord."
"It is a spiritual journey," said Francesco Gherra, one of the pilgrims who boarded the flight hosted by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, 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 will be religious, 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 Fr Cesar Atuire at the Vatican office that is co-ordinating the pilgrimages. Keeping costs for pilgrims low is another priority, Fr Atuire said.
The Vatican's venture 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," Ryanair said. -