By Gazi Abbas Shahid

Copyright india

Pope travel schedule: A valid passport and a visa are perquisites for any person to legally travel outside the borders of their country and this rule applies to all Heads of State Kings Monarchs diplomats and even the United Nations secretary-general. But did you know there is one individual on the planet who does not require any of these documents and can travel to any country across the world without a visa or a passport?
Which person can travel without visa?
The man we are talking about is the Pope the head of the Catholic Church and the Vatican City– worlds smallest country. The special status enjoyed by the Pope also comes with certain unique perks including the ability to travel to any country without the need to carry a passport or a visa.
According to details as the head of the Vatican City the Pope is an internationally recognized diplomat and has a diplomatic passport that allows him to travel without a visa. Pope Francis who recently passed away had visited more than 50 countries without requiring a visa.
Why Visa passport rules dont apply to the Pope?
The Vatican diplomatic passport carried by the Pope allows visa-free travel to most countries globally and whenever the chief pontiff pays an official visit to a country he is granted special exemptions including visa-free travel by the host nation. While some countries may have formalities for special security or political reasons but usually a visa is not mandatory for the Pope.
As the representative of 1.3 billion adherents of Catholic Christianity the Pope is a state guest for the host country and visa and passport rules do not apply to him. In many ways the Popes status is higher than any monarch head of state or diplomat primarily because the Vatican is a religious and diplomatic entity that enjoys full sovereignty under international law
Whats the legality of Popes status?
The legality of the unique status enjoyed by the Pope stems from the Lateran Treaty of 1929 which granted sovereignty to Vatican giving the Pope a full diplomatic immunity. Additionally the Pope also receives special status under international treaties signed as part of the 1961 Vienna Convention.
Notably a few countries including China and Russia sometimes place political conditions on the Popes travel but a visa is still required.
Why Pope enjoys unique perks?
Although the British royal family also enjoys some unique perks owing to their status yet not at the level as those accorded to the Pope. King Charles III does not officially have a passport as British passports are issued in his name and does not usually require a visa but this is not a blanket situation akin to the Pope and is reliant on bilateral relations and royal protocol.
In contrast the Japanese Emperor does require a visa for state visits though he does not have an official passport. The constitution of Japan recognizes the Emperor as a symbol of the state not the ruler.
Similarly most countries including the United States offer visa exemption to the UN Secretary General but certain states do require documentation in certain scenarios. The UN chief travels using the laissez-passe which is valid in most nations across the globe.
The Pope travels in his private jet Shepherd One a name inspired by the Popes symbolic role as the Shepherd of Gods flock in the Catholic Church.