Serious question, eyecue: will TSA really make an exception and take his staff with him if he wants to?

From your comments on the reasons one airport used to try to confiscate Peter Mayhew's "light saber", there is no way the Pope's staff should be permitted.

Or will TSA reveal a recent unpublished rule change (like they did when a TSO helped Britney Spears take a large cup of ice chips and water past the checkpoint)?