June 12, 2026, 6:36 p.mJune 12, 2026, 6:36 p.m
Pope Leo XIV’s trip home from his week-long visit to Spain has been delayed due to technical problems with his plane. The plane was unable to take off from the airport on the Canary Island of Tenerife in the late afternoon. Spain’s King Felipe, who had already officially bid farewell to the pontiff, then came on board the plane and asked Leo to wait with him in the airport’s VIP room. It was initially unclear when things could continue.
The head of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide had visited Spain since Saturday last week. He was originally supposed to be back in Rome at around 8 p.m. with his delegation from the Vatican and numerous journalists on board. Because of longer appointments, he was already an hour late on Friday afternoon. The captain did not provide any information about the nature of the technical problems via the on-board microphone.
Leo criticizes smuggling gangs
Previously, Leo had repeatedly criticized smuggling gangs and other people who profited from migration in the Canary Islands. At a meeting with migrants and integration workers in the Plaza del Cristo de La Laguna on Tenerife, the pontiff said: “Stop it! Convert!” The appeal is aimed “at those who organize death routes, traffic in human beings, withhold documents, exploit workers, threaten women, defraud families and turn the suffering of others into a business.”
At the end of his stay, the Pope also made reference to performance society and mass tourism, which is now also causing problems and causing discontent in the Canary Islands. “How important it is, especially for those who are guided by the gospel, not to reduce everything to trade and profit.” (sda/dpa)
Pope Leo comments on his role in politics
Video: watson/nina bürge