Farewell Ceremony from Spain and departure from Tenerife
Telegram to His Majesty the King of Spain
Telegram to Heads of State during the flight from Tenerife to Rome
Farewell Ceremony from Spain and departure from Tenerife
At the end of Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, at the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Holy Father Leo XIV transferred by car to Tenerife Norte – Los Rodeos International Airport for the farewell ceremony from Spain.
Upon arrival, at 16.30, the Pope was welcomed by His Majesty the King of Spain, Felipe VI, with whom he had a brief private meeting.
After greeting the respective delegations, the Holy Father boarded an Airbus A320 Iberia bound for Rome.
Due to a technical fault with the aircraft used for the Papal Flight, Leo XIV returned to Italy on board an aircraft provided by His Majesty the King of Spain. Holy See staff and journalists will return to Rome in the coming hours on an aircraft provided by Iberia.
The aircraft carrying the Pope took off from Tenerife Norte – Los Rodeos International Airport at 18:08 local time (19:08 in Rome) and landed at Rome-Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport at 23:05.
Telegram to His Majesty the King of Spain
As he left Spanish territory, the Holy Father sent the following telegram to His Majesty the King of Spain, Felipe VI:
His Majesty Felipe VI
King of Spain
Madrid
Returning to Rome at the conclusion of my Apostolic Journey, I wish to express once again my gratitude to Your Majesty, the Authorities and the people of Spain, for the warm welcome and generous hospitality given to me during this visit. Assuring you and all Spaniards of my continued prayers for the peace and unity of the Nation, I cordially invoke upon each of you an abundance of divine blessings.
Leo PP. XIV
Telegram to Heads of State during the flight from Tenerife to Rome
During the flight to Rome, while passing through Moroccan and Italian 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
En route to Rome at the conclusion of my Apostolic Journey to Spain, I willingly renew my good wishes to Your Majesty and the people of Morocco, and I assure you of my prayers for the good of the Kingdom.
Leo PP. XIV
Arrival - Italy
His Excellency
The Honourable Sergio Mattarella
President of the Italian Republic
Quirinal Palace, 00187 Rome
Palazzo del Quirinale 00187 Roma
As I return from my Apostolic Journey to Spain, where I had the joy of experiencing the lively faith of that beloved people who, rooted in Gospel values, continue today to be distinguished by their spirit of hospitality and Christian fraternity, I extend to you, Mr. President, my cordial greetings, assuring you of my constant prayers for the beloved Italian nation.
Leo PP. XIV
