Pope Leo XIV flies Iberia cockpit to Barcelona, escorted by Spanish F-18 and greeted by thousands

An invitation to the flight deck

Pope Leo XIV's journey from Madrid to Barcelona on Tuesday morning became an airborne spectacle after the flight crew invited him into the cockpit for takeoff. Iberia commander Pablo Martínez Núñez, who piloted the Airbus A320, told RTVE that the pontiff spent "two thirds of the flight" alongside the pilots. The invitation was coordinated in advance with a Vatican representative, who advised Martínez Núñez to extend the offer directly to the Holy Father.

He told me that he had never taken off in the cockpit of a passenger plane, and we invited him.

The commander, a 26-year veteran of the Spanish airline, described the assignment as the most special flight of his career. The Madrid-Barcelona leg is the first of four domestic flights Iberia will operate for the papal visit, with other crews handling the subsequent legs to Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Rome.

A fighter escort from Zaragoza

Once the aircraft reached cruising altitude, the crew alerted the Pope to a surprise: a Spanish Air Force F-18 fighter had taken off from the Zaragoza air base to provide an honour escort. The military jet flew alongside the Iberia A320 until the approach to Barcelona. In a moment captured by Vatican correspondents aboard the papal flight, the fighter pilot pulled out his own mobile phone while at the controls to photograph the Pope's aircraft. The two exchanged waves during the rendezvous.

Overflying the Sagrada Familia

Minutes before landing, the commander announced that the plane was about to overfly the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona's most recognisable landmark. According to journalists travelling with the papal entourage, the pontiff had earlier inquired about the possibility of seeing the basilica from the air. The flyover offered a preview of the site Leo XIV is scheduled to visit on Wednesday.

Arrival in Barcelona

After touching down at El Prat airport, the Pope was received by the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa. With the day's programme running behind schedule, authorities moved the Vatican press corps from the runway to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia in just 20 minutes. Thousands of people had gathered outside the cathedral, chanting "Viva el Papa!" even before his motorcade arrived. Inside, Leo XIV led a prayer service that blended passages in Catalan and Spanish.

A message of hope

Martínez Núñez, visibly moved after the flight, said the Pope brings "a message of hope, trust, affection and closeness" that he felt was especially needed today. The pontiff later moved to the Episcopal Palace, where he is staying and receiving private visits, before an evening prayer vigil with thousands at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.