King Felipe VI Lends Royal Jet to Pope After Technical Failure Delays Vatican Departure
King Felipe VI of Spain provided his own official aircraft to transport Pope Leo XIV back to the Vatican after the pontiff's scheduled flight suffered a technical failure at Tenerife’s Los Rodeos airport.
Pope Leo XIV’s recent visit to Spain, which ended on June 12, concluded with an unexpected logistical challenge. According to the regional broadcaster RTVC, the Pope’s return to Rome was delayed after the Iberia aircraft scheduled to transport the Vatican delegation from Tenerife’s Los Rodeos airport suffered a technical failure.
King Felipe VI, who was at the airport to see the Pope off, stepped in to help. He offered his own Falcon 900, part of the Spanish Air Force’s 45th Group, to ensure the Pope could return to the Vatican.
The Pope publicly thanked the King for this gesture during his Sunday Angelus prayer. The decision required a quick change to the King’s own travel plans; while a replacement plane was sent from Madrid for him, the King waited four hours at the General Captaincy of the Canary Islands in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. During this time, he enjoyed a private dinner with Lieutenant General Julio Salom, head of the Canary Islands Military Command, featuring local specialties like papas con costillas, corn, mojo, and quesillo from the restaurant Casa Tomás.
Beyond the dinner, the incident highlighted the strong coordination between the Royal Household and military authorities during emergencies. The Vatican delegation, led by Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, was able to complete their journey without further issues. The Pope’s gratitude underscores the warm diplomatic ties between the two states and marks the end of a busy series of apostolic visits to Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands. What began as a confusing moment on the runway ultimately served as a clear example of effective logistical cooperation.