Pope Leo XIV. Photo: Riccardo De Luca - Update / Shutterstock.com As first reported in August, Air France will operate a specially prepared Airbus A321 for Pope Leo XIV’s first visit to France. The airline has announced that the aircraft will be temporarily renamed “Cité du Vatican” for the journey.
The French carrier will operate three special flights between Paris-Orly, Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées, Metz-Nancy-Lorraine and Rome-Fiumicino between September 26 and 28.
The Vatican’s official itinerary confirms that the Pope will travel from Paris to Lourdes on September 26, continue from Lourdes to Metz on September 28, and then return to Rome.
The A321 will be configured with two cabins for the Pope, his immediate entourage and the wider delegation. Air France said the group will include more than 70 people, including cardinals, bishops, senior officials, Holy See staff, security personnel and Swiss Guards.
Air France. Photo: ShutterstockMore than 80 accredited journalists from around the world will also travel on the aircraft.
For the duration of the mission, the aircraft will carry the temporary name “Cité du Vatican” on its fuselage. The coat of arms of Vatican City will also be displayed on the aircraft next to the forward left-hand door used by the Pope for boarding.
The operation begins on Saturday, September 26, when the A321 will depart the honorary pavilion at Paris-Orly at 17:45 and fly to Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées.
On Monday, September 28, the aircraft will leave Lourdes at 07:40 for Metz-Nancy-Lorraine. The final sector will depart Metz at 19:00 for Rome-Fiumicino, where the Pope is scheduled to arrive at 20:50.
Air France said the flights carrying Pope Leo XIV will have the status of state flights and receive the arrangements normally applied to aircraft transporting heads of state, including priority handling.
More than 100 Air France employees will be involved in the operation across flight operations, cabin crew, maintenance, ground handling, security, protocol, catering and operational coordination.
Air France captain Clémence Coussonneau, who will operate the first two sectors, said the crew had been preparing for the mission for several weeks. A second crew will take over in Metz for the return flight to Rome.
The airline is also marking the occasion by giving Pope Leo XIV an original collector’s poster created by artist Plaquet. The artwork recalls Air France’s role in religious travel and the company's historic connections with Lourdes and Rome.
Air France has previously operated several flights for visiting popes.
On May 2, 1989, Pope John Paul II flew aboard an Air France Concorde from Saint-Denis on Réunion Island to Lusaka, Zambia, during his African tour.
In 1996, Air France operated John Paul II’s return flight from Reims to Rome-Fiumicino aboard an Airbus A310.
The airline also operated two special flights during Pope Benedict XVI’s 2008 visit to France, connecting Paris-Orly with Lourdes and Lourdes with Rome. Both were flown with Airbus A321 aircraft.
Air France is not the only European carrier to transport Leo XIV in 2026: Iberia carried him during his Spain visit this summer, while ITA Airways will handle his outbound flight to France.