For Pope Leo XIV's visit to France from September 25 to 28, Air France is managing all transportation needs, including three special flights between Paris-Orly, Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées, Metz-Nancy-Lorraine, and Rome-Fiumicino. These flights will transport the Pope, his delegation, and more than 80 international journalists. The Air France Airbus A321 used for these flights has been renamed "Cité du Vatican" and features the Vatican’s coat of arms on its fuselage. Over 100 Air France employees are involved in this mission, ensuring all aspects of the Pope’s travel are handled smoothly. The Pope will be seated alone in the first row of the aircraft, separated from the rest of the cabin by an opaque curtain. He will be served a meal and a snack similar to those offered in business class. The plane has undergone a special inspection before the flights, and a mechanic will accompany the flight to handle any technical issues. A backup aircraft is also on standby in case of emergencies. These flights are treated as state flights, which means they benefit from special provisions usually reserved for transporting heads of state. The aircraft has been modified to include two separate cabins: one for the Pope and his close circle, and another for the rest of the delegation, which includes over 70 people such as cardinals, bishops, staff from the Holy See, security personnel, Swiss guards, and accredited journalists. Transavia, a low-cost airline under the Air France-KLM group, will operate a special flight between Orly airport and Lourdes to transport a group of cardinals, bishops, and journalists accompanying the Pope during his visit. Air France has a history of transporting popes, including Pope John Paul II on the Concorde in 1989 and on an Airbus A310 in 1996, and Pope Benedict XVI on an Airbus A321 in 2008. Clémence Coussonneau, an Air France flight commander, will be at the controls for the flight to Lourdes and the return journey from Lourdes to Metz. A second crew will take over in Metz for the Pope’s return to Rome. Before the Paris-Orly to Lourdes flight departs, Air France will present Pope Leo XIV with a collectible poster created by artist Plaquet. This gift is a tribute to a significant moment in the company’s history, referencing promotional materials used during the Catholic Church’s Jubilee in 1950. Additionally, the SNCF (French national rail company) will provide special trains and extra services to support pilgrims in Lourdes and Metz. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected to gather in the area, and the dioceses of Lille, Arras, and Cambrai will benefit from a special TGV (high-speed train) service consisting of two trains with 500 seats each. The SNCF regularly arranges special trains for pilgrims, particularly for the National Pilgrimage of Lourdes.