Pope Leo’s plane was grounded. Then the King of Spain stepped in to help

Pope Leo XIV's journey back to Rome from Spain took an unexpected turn when the Iberia Airways flight scheduled to carry him and his entourage experienced a technical problem, grounding the aircraft at Tenerife Norte–Ciudad de La Laguna Airport. The Pope and some of his staff disembarked after the captain announced the plane could not take off. Among the passengers were approximately 80 journalists who had accompanied the Pope on his June 6-12 visit. Typically, the Pope uses an ITA aircraft for departure, with the host country often arranging the return flight. This instance saw the host country's provided plane, an Iberia Airways flight, encounter an issue, causing chaos among the traveling press corps. In a remarkable display of hospitality, the King of Spain intervened, offering his private plane to ensure the Pope's swift return to Rome. While the Pope boarded the royal aircraft, the journalists awaited a separate plane. This incident marked a chaotic conclusion to what had been an otherwise historic and well-attended visit to Spain. The first American Pope, a fluent Spanish speaker, had drawn massive crowds, including an estimated 1.2 million people for a Mass and procession in Madrid. He also made history as the first pontiff to address Spain's parliament, receiving a prolonged standing ovation. The large turnout surprised many, with the Pope himself noting on the flight over that he was competing with a concert by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny. The Vatican later confirmed a brief, private meeting between the Pope and the artist, though no images were released. A significant moment of the trip was the Pope's celebration at Barcelona's Sagrada Familia basilica, coinciding with the centenary of its architect, Antoni Gaudí.

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A technical problem had been discovered, and the plane wasn’t able to take off.