Yoyo: Great to see you back on the forum!
I am researching 'Papal Flying' and hope to be able to answer some of your questions (ie. the airfield and fixed-wing practices) in due course.
But, for now .. the first (recorded) rotary-wing excursion by an incumbent Pontiff was during the regin of Pope Paul VI (1963-1978 his Pontificate):
Pope Paul VI embarks on the first officially recorded helicopter flight by a Pontiff. Here the Pope is seen inside an Italian Air Force Agusta-Bell 204 which had landed in the garden of the papal summer residence (Castel Gando) and went on to take the Pope to the central Italian cathedral town of Orvieto
Italian Air Force Agusta-Bell 204 departs Castel Gando with Pope Paul VI aboard .. the downwash necessitating the Swiss Guard to hold onto their helmets (no sordid comments please 
)
This flight took place on the Feast of St. Alphonsus, 1st August 1964 (Lammas Day in Britain).
If he felt the S76 was small, wonder what he said about the 109?
When his Private Secretary informed him that they were about to land .. he said: "But we only just took off!"