The Pope visited the cockpit during his flight to Barcelona – video
During a domestic flight from Madrid to Barcelona as part of his fourth apostolic journey, Pope Leo XIV accepted an unusual invitation from the flight crew and spent the entire flight in the cockpit.
Sitting alongside the captain and co-pilot, the pontiff observed their work and the flight in real time. In addition, through the cockpit window, the Holy Father waved to the pilots of Spanish Air Force fighter jets, who, in accordance with security protocol, were escorting the passenger plane in the sky.
Pope Leo sat with the pilots of a flight from Madrid to Barcelona on the second leg of his Spain tour. The pontiff was invited aboard by one of the captains, and waved at Spanish Air Force fighter jet pilots escorting the plane https://t.co/pbv4UuLWFo pic.twitter.com/DAD1ptXLFL
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 9, 2026
After a successful landing at Barcelona Airport, the head of the Catholic Church met with the leader of Catalonia and lived up to the expectations of local believers by beginning his official speech in Catalan. The highlight of his visit to the region will be Wednesday, when the pontiff will take part in the historic event — the opening and consecration of the newly built tallest tower of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, marking the 100th anniversary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí. After Catalonia, the Pope will head to the Canary Islands, where he will conclude his Spanish tour on Friday.
This was reported by Reuters.
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