Pope Leo XIV will fly Air France when he visits the carrier’s home country in September.
The airline said it will dedicate an Airbus A321 to carry Leo, his delegation of cardinals, and accredited journalists to locations within France and then back to Rome. The aircraft will have the coat of arms of Vatican City displayed on its fuselage exterior, as well as inside the cabin.
According to Air France, the pope will fly from the Honorary Pavilion at Paris-Orly to Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport in the south of France on Sept. 26; from Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées to Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport in the east on Sept. 28; and from Metz-Nancy-Lorraine to Rome-Fiumicino, also on Sept. 28.
Air France did not say how Leo will reach Paris to begin his journey, but he will likely use a chartered aircraft from ITA Airways, the flag carrier of Italy. Popes have generally used ITA for outbound flights since the collapse of former Italian flag carrier Alitalia 2021.
Leo is expected to meet with French President Emanuel Macron while in Paris. He will also give a speech at the headquarters of UNESCO, celebrate Mass at Notre-Dame, and appear at a vigil at Stade de France. Similar large events and meetings will take place in Lourdes and Metz.
Leo’s trip to France will be the first state visit to the country by a reigning pope since Pope Benedict XVI visited in September 2008. Pope Francis traveled to France three times during his papacy, but none were considered an official state visit.
Air France also flew Pope John Paul II in the 1980s and 1990s, most notably during part of his Africa tour in 1989.
