ITA Airways accompanies Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of his first Apostolic Journey. The Holy Father departed today on November 27 at 7:40 am from Rome-Fiumicino Airport, bound for Ankara (Esenboğa International Airport). The aircraft chosen for the occasion is the A-320neo. The flight has departed from Terminal 5 of "Leonardo da Vinci Airport" and land in Ankara at 12:30 pm local time. The journey will continue to Istanbul, with arrival scheduled for 7:00 pm (local time), and subsequently to Beirut, where he will land at 3:45 pm on November 30. The return to Rome-Fiumicino is scheduled for December 2 at 4:10 pm. 

Welcomed the Holy Father on board at Fiumicino Airport on behalf of ITA Airways were Chairman Sandro Pappalardo, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joerg Eberhart, and ITA Airways Chief Commercial Officer and Volare CEO Emiliana Limosani. The flight and onboard operations are supervised by Commander Riccardo Privitera, the company's Chief of Flight Operations; the total crew is of 10 members, including 3 pilots and 7 flight attendants, joined by the ITA Airways team dedicated to special flights. In addition to the papal delegation, representatives of the Italian and international press travel with him. 

The carrier expresses its deep honor for the high privilege of accompanying His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his first Apostolic Journey. This event represents not only a moment of great spiritual significance but also a symbol of trust and closeness, reaffirming the airline’s commitment to embody in the skies of the world the values of excellence, reliability, and service that define it. All the company’s personnel share in the solemnity of this moment, which will remain a significant milestone in its history.