Following the conclusion of his week-long apostolic journey to Spain, Pope Leo XIV faced an unexpected delay when his chartered aircraft suffered a technical issue at Tenerife airport in the Canary Islands. In a gesture of royal hospitality, Spanish King Felipe VI offered his official Falcon jet so the Pope and part of his delegation could return safely to Rome. The Vatican confirmed the flight departed Tenerife at 6:00 pm local time and was scheduled to arrive in Rome around 11:00 pm. This rare act of assistance highlighted the strong diplomatic ties between the Holy See and Spain at the end of a trip that included emotional encounters with migrants in the Canary Islands.
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| Source: Video Screenshot |
Pope Leo XIV will return to Rome from the Canary Islands on Friday on a plane offered by Spanish King Felipe VI after his orginal aircraft suffered a technical glitch, the Vatican said.
The flight is scheduled to depart Tenerife at 6:00 pm (1700 GMT) and arrive in Rome at around 11:00 pm, it said in a statement.