Pope Leo XIV. Photo: Riccardo De Luca - Update / Shutterstock.com Air France will provide transportation for Pope Leo XIV during his first visit to France, dedicating an Airbus A321 to the pontiff, his delegation and accredited journalists.
The visit is scheduled for September 25 to 28, 2026, with the airline operating several special flights connecting Paris, Lourdes, Metz and Rome.
The dedicated Airbus A321 will carry the coat of arms of Vatican City on both the exterior of the aircraft and inside the cabin, marking the special nature of the journey.
Air France at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Photo: travelview / Shutterstock.comThe special flights will operate as follows:
-September 26: Paris-Orly (ORY) to Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées (LDE), departing at 5:45 p.m.
-September 28: Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées (LDE) to Metz-Nancy-Lorraine (ETZ), departing at 7:40 a.m.-September 28: Metz-Nancy-Lorraine (ETZ) to Rome-Fiumicino (FCO), departing at 7 p.m.
Air France said it is proud to participate in Pope Leo XIV's first visit to France.
The airline has a long history of transporting popes, including Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
One of the most notable journeys took place on May 2, 1989, when Air France carried John Paul II aboard a Concorde from Saint-Denis on Réunion Island to Lusaka, Zambia, during his African tour.
John Paul II also flew with Air France on his return from Reims to Rome-Fiumicino on September 22, 1996, aboard an Airbus A310.
More recently, Air France operated two special flights for Pope Benedict XVI's 2008 visit to France, connecting Paris-Orly with Lourdes and Lourdes with Rome. Both flights used Airbus A321 aircraft.
In June, Iberia was chosen for the special operation to transport Pope Leo XIV during his historic visit across Spain.