Pope Leo XIV Blesses Fighter Pilots Inflight From Air France Airbus A321 Cockpit

Pope Leo XIV spent time in the cockpit of an Air France Airbus A321-200 during a flight from Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées (LDE) to Metz-Nancy-Lorraine (ETZ) on Monday, September 28. AFP reports that the Pope held informal conversations in the flight deck with pilot Eric Marguerite for about half an hour. He also offered blessings by radio to the accompanying fighter jet pilots and to the cabin crew, with one attendant describing it as a unique moment after meticulous planning. The A321-200, registered F-GTAU, temporarily carried special branding for the Pope’s visit. It was the second of three Air France special flights using the same aircraft.