The historic visit of Pope Leo XIV to the Canary Islands concluded with an unforeseen event at Tenerife North Airport. After a seven-hour day touring the island, the pontiff was preparing to board the Iberia Airbus for his flight to Rome when a technical fault prevented the aircraft from taking off.
Sources from Iberia explained that the technical problem could not be immediately repaired, prompting the airline to arrange for another aircraft to be sent from Madrid. Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV, accompanied by his entourage and journalists, remained on board the disabled plane.
Amidst the delay, King Felipe VI, who had already bid farewell to the pontiff, returned to the aircraft to offer his assistance. The Spanish monarch invited the Pope to the VIP lounge to rest while the situation was assessed. After an hour of discussion, Felipe VI offered his own jet, a Falcon 900 from the Air Force's 45th Wing, to facilitate the Pope's return to Rome.
Pope Leo XIV accepted the Spanish monarch's generous offer, expressing gratitude for the swift solution that prevented further prolongation of the already intense day. The Vatican later confirmed on social media that the pontiff was traveling on a plane 'kindly offered by His Majesty'.
The Falcon eventually took off at 18:05, nearly three hours behind the Vatican's original schedule, carrying the Pope back. The visit, marked by solemnity and the fervor of the faithful, had an unexpected conclusion due to this aerial incident, adding a unique chapter to the chronicle of his time in the islands.
