GOD REALLY IS THEIR CO-PILOT!

Recently it was announced that The Vatican is starting a charter airline for Catholic pilgrims. Here is part of the report by Reuters:

ROME, Italy -- 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.
Complete with Vatican logos on headrests and air hostesses' uniforms, the inaugural flight travelled 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.

Here is another (somewhat tongue in cheek) take on the whole venture:

They have no schedules and will only tell you "Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."

When boarding you always have to enter through the "Narrow gate."

Everybody gets the same seating arrangement because with Vatican Air there are no Jews, Greeks, Male, Female, Business Class, Economy, or First Class.

They use nuns as stewardesses and will rap your knuckles if you forget to say grace before eating your package of peanuts.

After the nuns demonstrate how to exit the aircraft and how to use the oxygen masks, they demonstrate how to pray the Rosary available in the compartment on the back of each seat. They also tell the passengers "The Parable of the Unjust Stewardess."

You never have to worry about the pilot being raptured because Catholics don't fall for that fairly recent teleological innovation.

Flight insurance includes a fund that will pay stipends to a monastery of your choice that will have Masses said for you in case of a fatal accident.

There is always a priest onboard trained to quickly give general absolutions in case of an in flight emergency. Otherwise passengers may use the in flight confessionals. When using the in flight confessional make sure you slide the sign to occupied.

You get to offer up turbulence and airline food.

Not only is the seat a flotation device but it can also be used as a kneeler.

Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites and males from some other orders are eligible for Frequent Friar Miles.

If Vatican Air loses your luggage St. Anthony is immediately invoked.

You never have to worry that your aircrew includes Pontius Pilot.

Connecting flights are made with Holy Virgin airlines.

Courtesy of Jeff Miller at The Curt Jester