Pope Leo XIV’s flight home from Spain was grounded so the king came to his aid
In this handout photo provided by Vatican Media, Pope Leo XIV is accompanied by King Felipe VI of Spain as he deplanes after a technical problem at Tenerife Norte-Los Rodeos International Airport in Tenerife, Spain, Friday, June 12, 2026. (Vatican Media via AP)
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Spain (AP) — It was the first time in decades that a papal flight had experienced a problem so serious that it required the pope to change planes.
