Who knew that Pope Benedict XVI can fly a helicopter?
Posted on February 26th, 2019
But he never learned to drive a car.
The retirement of Pope Benedict XVI came as a surprise to Catholics around the world, and his retirement ceremony will likely be full of pomp and circumstance, broadcast live around the world.
It’s less well known that when the Pope flies off into retirement aboard the papal helicopter he could be sitting in the front piloting instead of in the back waving. He could take the cockpit and fly the aircraft himself.
Information from the “Fun Facts” section of the Catholic News Agency website indicates that “Pope Benedict XVI has a pilot’s license for the papal helicopter and likes to fly from the Vatican to the papal summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, but the pope does not have a driver’s license as he never learned to drive a car.” The website Snoring Scholar also indicates that the pope is licensed to fly single-engine airplanes.
The New York Times reports that Pope Benedict XVI has enjoyed flying the papal helo from the Vatican to Castel Gandolfo, but for this retirement flight, he’ll be a passenger.
Tags: Benedict XVI, Pope Benedict XVI helicopter license, Pope helicopter license
