Pope Leo XIV's flight home from Spain was grounded so the king came to his aid

Article excerpt

Pope Leo XIV's chartered Iberia flight back to Rome was grounded Friday due to a technical problem, leaving him stranded in Spain after a week-long visit. King Felipe VI stepped in immediately, offering his own private jet to ferry the pontiff home. The gesture underscores the diplomatic ties between the Vatican and Spain, though it also highlights the logistical challenges of papal travel, even heads of state occasionally face the same flight delays that plague ordinary travelers.