Pope Leo XIV's flight home from Spain was grounded : NPR
NPR • • world
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV's return flight from Spain to Rome was delayed due to a technical problem with the Iberia charter plane, leading King Felipe VI to offer his private jet for the pope's journey home.
- The engine failure occurred after Pope Leo had boarded, forcing passengers to disembark and causing a delay of over three hours before takeoff from Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
- This incident marked the first serious papal flight issue in decades, with previous notable disruptions occurring during St. John Paul II's pontificate due to weather conditions.
- Typically, papal flights are chartered with the pope and delegation seated at the front, and journalists in coach; the pope's trips often involve national carriers and military escorts as a mark of respect.
- Pope Leo's trip to Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands was otherwise successful, highlighted by his migration message and the inauguration of the new tower of the Sagrada Familia basilica.