Pope Leo XIV’s Travel Delay Resolved by Spanish King’s Gesture

Pope Leo XIV faced an unexpected travel delay during his visit to Spain. A technical issue with his Iberia charter flight grounded his return trip to Rome. Fortunately, King Felipe VI offered a solution by providing his private jet for the Pope’s use.

The incident occurred on a Friday as Pope Leo prepared to leave the Canary Islands, specifically Santa Cruz de Tenerife. King Felipe personally accompanied the Pope to his Falcon jet waiting on the tarmac. After a delay of over three hours, Pope Leo and his delegation boarded the new plane.

This marked a surprising conclusion to Pope Leo’s otherwise successful visit, which included stops in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands. During his trip, he emphasized his migration message and inaugurated a new tower at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica.

The problem began when the Iberia pilot reported that an engine failed to start after Pope Leo had boarded. Initial repair attempts were unsuccessful, resulting in a need for all passengers to disembark. Iberia arranged for another plane from Madrid to transport the remaining Vatican officials and journalists not accompanying the Pope on the Falcon.

The Spanish archipelago is geographically closer to Africa than the Iberian Peninsula. This was an unusual event, as it’s been decades since a papal flight encountered an issue requiring a change of planes. Veteran Vatican reporters recalled past incidents involving Pope John Paul II, when unforeseen circumstances affected his travel plans. In 1986, due to a snowstorm in Rome, his plane had to land in Naples. In 1988, weather conditions forced a landing in South Africa while en route to Lesotho.

Typically, the Pope’s travels involve ITA Airways or the national carrier of the host country. Flights are chartered, with the Pope and Vatican delegates occupying the front of the plane. Approximately 70 journalists typically accompany them, seated in coach.

Earlier in the trip, Iberia shared a video of Pope Leo in the cockpit, displaying his smile as he traveled from Madrid to Barcelona and then to the Canary Islands. In both transitions, Spanish military aircraft escorted the Pope as a mark of respect toward the visiting dignitary.