"Not Every Day Does One Get to Be Part of a Historic Journey": This Airline Will Accompany the Pope on His Spain Visit and Back to Rome

Iberia, Spain's flagship carrier that operates out of Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), has made an exciting announcement regarding the much-anticipated visit of Pope Leon XIV in Spain.

"In the coming days, we will accompany Pope Leo XIV on his travels through Spain and on his subsequent return to Rome. A very special operation that our professionals are already preparing with the excitement, responsibility, and commitment that characterize every Iberia flight," said the founding member of the oneworld alliance.

Pope Leo XIV. Photo: Riccardo De Luca - Update / Shutterstock.com

The company, which is the premier choice for domestic routes and flights bringing together Europe with Latin America and the United States of America, has shared some of its staff's views on the event.

"It is a historic opportunity, I am very happy to accompany the Holy Father, I feel very lucky. The truth is that I really want to meet him, I think it is a gift, it is something that I did not expect." 

"I think it is a historic milestone, His Holiness will receive a lot of attention. a lot of emotion above all and, of course, it's a big responsibility that brings us pride."

"That day we will leave Madrid, so we will get up very early to go to Barcelona to pick him up. We are going to make the flight from Barcelona to Las Palmas and the next day we will take him from Las Palmas to Tenerife North." 

"He is not just any passenger. It will be a flight where all eyes will be on us and it's going to be very, very special, I'm sure we will make him feel it on the plane. It's very difficult for a flight with these characteristics to repeat itself."  

In a travel advisory shared earlier today, Aena urged passengers heading to Madrid Airport to be aware of the special mobility plan being introduced by the Spanish authorities across the capital during the Pope's visit, when large gatherings and traffic congestion are expected to occur.

The National Police has also announced they will deploy "the largest logistical challenge in security on the occasion", with over 15,000 agents, 600 vehicles, 7 helicopters, 16 drones, and a wide-ranging operation in Madrid, Cataluña, and Canarias for maximum security to ensure the normal development of the events."