Pope Leo’s plane was grounded. Then the King of Spain stepped in to help

Key Points:

• A technical problem grounded the Iberia Airways flight carrying Pope Leo XIV from Tenerife to Rome, forcing the pope to switch to the King of Spain’s private plane for the return journey, causing chaos among the accompanying journalists.
• The pope’s June 6-12 visit to Spain was historic, drawing massive crowds including 1.2 million attendees at a Madrid Mass, and featured his first address to Spain’s parliament, where he received a standing ovation.
• Highlights of the trip included a Mass at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica commemorating architect Antoni Gaudí, migrant outreach in the Canary Islands, and private meetings with abuse survivors urging reparations.
• Pope Leo appeared notably relaxed and engaged during the visit, interacting informally with pilots and crowds, and speaking candidly about his personal life and encouragement for young people.
• The unexpected flight disruption prevented the usual in-flight press conference, limiting journalists’ opportunity to question the pope, marking another dramatic moment in a papacy known for unscheduled events.