- The airline provides the Pope with pre-takeoff devotional practices.
During his journey to the last destination of his longest international expedition to Singapore, Pope Francis had some atypical in-flight literature. The tiny Airline Aero Dili from East Timor distributed a petition for divine intervention to all members of the papal squadron before takeoff in Dili's capital. The petitions, imprinted on them, sought spiritual aid for six significant religions. The ensuing three-and-a-half-hour flight was free of any bumps or turbulence.
For the Catholic travelers on board, including their 87-year-old leader, it was: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. We ask You to protect our journey, bless us with good weather and pleasant skies. Direct us under the guidance of Your holy angels, including the flight staff, to safely transport us to our destination. We also pray that our loved ones, who we left behind, can find solace and peace until we are able to connect with them once more."
Besides these prayers for Catholics, there were also spiritual formulas for Protestant Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Confucianists. According to the cabin crew, these prayer cards were standard gear for Aero Dili. The airline from the predominantly Catholic country only has one larger aircraft, an Airbus A320.
Typically, the Pope travels abroad with the nation's airline. Pope Francis was scheduled to return to Rome from his twelve-day excursion on that Friday.
During the distribution of petitions for divine intervention on the Airline Aero Dili, Pope Francis was surrounded by various religious followers. The petitions included prayers for the Pope and his squadron, as well as for individuals from different faiths such as Protestant Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Confucianists. The Pope's journey included a visit to the Church in Singapore, a testament to his deep-rooted religious beliefs and commitment to interfaith harmony.
