Departure from Barcelona and Welcome at the Gran Canaria-Gando Air Base in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Barcelona to Las Palmas Gran Canaria

Departure from Barcelona and Welcome at the Gran Canaria-Gando Air Base in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

At 7.30 this morning, the Holy Father Leo XIV took leave of the Archbishop’s residence in Barcelona and transferred by car to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat International Airport. At 8.45 he departed on board an A320 Iberia bound for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father landed at Gran-Canaria-Gando Air Base at 10.38 local time (11.38 in Rome).

Upon arrival, the Holy Father Leo XIV was welcomed by the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejon, and some local leaders. This was followed by a brief meeting in the VIP lounge.

The Holy Father then travelled to the Port of Arguingeguín for the meeting with organizations providing support for migrants.

Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Barcelona to Las Palmas Gran Canaria

During the flight from Barcelona to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, while passing over Moroccan and Portuguese airspace, the Holy Father Leo XIV sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:

Overflight Morocco

His Majesty Mohammed VI
King of Morocco
Rabat

I send cordial greetings to Your Majesty and the people of Morocco as I fly over your country on my Apostolic Journey to Spain. Assuring you of a remembrance in my prayers, I willingly invoke divine blessings upon the Kingdom.

Leo PP. XIV

Overflight Portugal

His Excellency António José Seguro
President of the Portugese Republic
Lisbon

As I fly over Portugal on my Apostolic Journey to Spain, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens, together with the assurance of my prayers for the wellbeing of the Nation.

Leo PP. XIV