Iberia to Manage Air Travel for Pope Leo XIV’s Upcoming Spain Visit
Iberia has been selected to manage all air travel for Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming June 6–12 visit to Spain, which will focus on migration and the Church’s role in the Canary Islands.
Iberia will manage all air travel for Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to Spain, scheduled for June 6–12. The airline’s selection to handle both domestic flights and the return journey to Rome highlights the significance of this trip, which will focus on migration and the Church’s role in the Canary Islands.
The itinerary includes flights between Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife, ending with a return to Rome. The Pope’s visit to the islands on June 11 and 12 will be busy: after arriving at Gando airbase at 10:50 a.m. on Thursday, he will lead a Mass at the Gran Canaria Stadium and meet with groups involved in migrant support. On Friday, he will travel to Tenerife, arriving at Los Rodeos at 9:10 a.m. His schedule there includes visits to Las Raíces and the Plaza del Cristo in La Laguna, followed by a Mass at the port of Santa Cruz. He is set to depart at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, arriving back at Fiumicino Airport at 8:10 p.m.
To meet the security and privacy requirements for a head of state, Iberia has customized the aircraft. The papal coat of arms will be displayed on the fuselage, and the cabin will feature symbols related to the trip, including images of the Virgin of Montserrat for the initial flights and the Virgin of Candelaria for the inter-island travel.
The flights will also feature a personal touch: the music played on board will include recordings by the Escolanía de El Escorial. This is a nod to Pope Leo XIV’s background as a member of the Order of Saint Augustine, where he served as Father General for over a decade. By choosing this music, the Holy See continues its tradition of blending the Pope’s personal history with the locations he visits.