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

On July 4, 2023, an Air France Airbus A321 aircraft operating as flight AF859 briefly carried Pope Leo XIV aboard during a unique event. The plane’s designation was temporarily changed to ‘Le Pape,’ reflecting the occasion of the papal journey. This occurred while the aircraft was in transit, specifically from Paris Orly Airport to Rome Fiumicino Airport. During this brief period, the Pope received a blessing within the cockpit of the Airbus A321. Following the blessing, the aircraft resumed its scheduled service and returned to its standard naming convention.