Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican on an aircraft provided by King Felipe of Spain due after a technical issue grounded his papal plane.
The plane was grounded in Tenerife after a week-long Spanish tour.
“Pope Leo XIV will return to Rome aboard an aircraft graciously made available by His Majesty the King of Spain. The flight is scheduled to depart at around 6:00 p.m. local time and is expected to arrive in Rome at approximately 11:00 p.m. Rome time,” a press release from Vatican News read.
Pope Leo XIV flies back to the Vatican aboard an aircraft provided by King Felipe of Spain, following a technical issue that prevented the original plane from departing from Tenerife’s Los Rodeos airport.
“Pope Leo XIV will return to Rome aboard an aircraft graciously made… pic.twitter.com/pjs9Lg1tfn
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) June 12, 2026
Vatican News shared further:
That was how, in an unprecedented development, Pope Leo XIV’s fourth international apostolic journey came to an at Tenerife North Airport (Los Rodeos), concluding the weeklong visit that took him to Madrid, Barcelona, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
The departure was delayed for a considerable time due to a technical problem with the engine of the Iberia Airbus A320. The aircraft began its takeoff procedures at around 4:15 p.m. local time.
ADVERTISEMENTShortly afterwards, however, the boarding stairs were brought back to the aircraft and the Pope was escorted to the airport’s VIP lounge by King Felipe VI, who had bid him farewell only moments earlier. They were soon followed by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, along with the other cardinals and bishops accompanying the papal delegation, who also disembarked.
Watch below:
The Pope was forced to disembark a flight bound for Rome after an apparent technical issue was detected while the aircraft was on the ground at Tenerife Airport. pic.twitter.com/Z6XWlRzffx
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 12, 2026
EWTN News shared a picture of the plane offered by the King of Spain.
The King of Spain offers his Falcon jet for Pope Leo’s return to Rome after technical problems with the papal plane. pic.twitter.com/JNQ1USIWiB
— EWTN News (@EWTNews) June 12, 2026
More from The Independent:
After the Pope disembarked, the captain announced the engine likely failed to start due to wind, confirming the issue couldn’t be resolved immediately and passengers had to leave.
Iberia stated the plane experienced an unspecified technical issue, with a replacement aircraft being sent from Madrid to complete the Rome journey on Friday.
By traveling to the Canary Islands, Leo is fulfilling a wish of Pope Francis to minister to the many migrants who arrive on the Spanish archipelago after risking their lives to reach Europe from Africa.
