The following commentary is from the EWTN series, The Papacy: A Living History, The Papal Artifacts Collection of Father Richard Kunst. This very interesting item was featured on the second episode of the series, Popes of the 20th Century.

Here is Father’s Commentary:

This is quite a unique item of historic significance. It is a menu that was used aboard ‘Shepherd One’, the Pope’s airplane, when Paul VI came to speak to the United Nations in October 1965. It was the first time ever that a Pope had come to the United States.

The menu states that he was here on ‘The Journey for Peace.’ He quotes St. Francis, “Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.” This was because it was during the Vietnam War and he had come to address the United Nations about the war and about the need to resolve this conflict by finding a peaceful resolution to it.

You not only see the Papal seal inside the menu, but also that Gethsemani cheese and fruitcake, from the Trappist Monastery in Kentucky, was served as one of the dessert courses.

Also, he was flying Trans World Airlines, commonly referred to as TWA. which, of course, does not exist anymore. It was the traditional airline used for the pope, giving it the nickname “Traveling with Angels,” throughout the world with the pope.

So, this menu was used on the flight back to the Vatican after his historic journey.