Pope Leo XIV’s Unexpected Departure: King Felipe VI Lends a Hand

SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Spain — Even a papal journey encounters unexpected delays. Pope Leo XIV experienced a travel hiccup when a technical issue grounded his Iberia charter flight at Tenerife Norte-Los Rodeos International Airport. Fortunately, King Felipe VI of Spain came to the rescue, offering his private jet for the pope’s return to Rome.

King Felipe personally escorted Pope Leo to the Falcon jet on the tarmac at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands. The pontiff, along with his delegation, boarded the aircraft approximately three hours after their original departure schedule. This incident provided an unusual conclusion to a successful journey across Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands, where Pope Leo championed his migration message and inaugurated the new tower of the Sagrada Familia basilica.

An initial attempt to start the Iberia plane’s engine failed after Pope Leo had boarded, leading all passengers to disembark. Iberia arranged for another aircraft from Madrid to transport Vatican officials and journalists not accompanying Pope Leo on King Felipe’s Falcon.

The Canary Islands’ proximity to Africa, rather than the Iberian Peninsula, marked the first significant papal flight disruption requiring a plane change in decades. Some experienced Vatican journalists on the Iberia flight recalled previous incidents during St. John Paul II’s tenure, such as unscheduled landings due to weather conditions.

Papal trips typically involve the Italian national carrier, ITA Airways, either on single segments or entire journeys, depending on logistics. During this visit, Iberia proudly shared footage of Pope Leo in the cockpit, beaming as he traveled from Madrid to Barcelona and onward to the Canary Islands. Spanish military aircraft delivered airborne escorts, underscoring respect for the visiting pope. One video even captured Pope Leo waving to an accompanying pilot.