Pope Leo XIV: Planes should bring peace, not war and destruction

Vatican, March 24, 2026: Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude to the Italian national airline ITA Airways for transporting him on his Apostolic Journeys, while lamenting the use of aircraft as instruments of death and destruction in theatres of war.

Just twenty days before his Apostolic Journey to four African nations, Pope Leo XIV met with a delegation of executives and staff from ITA Airways and the Lufthansa Group.

The Pope expressed his appreciation to ITA Airways and its predecessor, Alitalia, for their service to the Popes, beginning with Pope St. Paul VI.

He commended its “qualified and experienced professionals” for fostering a “serene atmosphere” for the Pope, his entourage, and the journalists who accompany him on his Apostolic Journeys.

He added that ITA Airways contributes to making papal visits abroad feel like “almost a family atmosphere, where respect is joined with devotion.”

“Meeting you gives me the opportunity to express my personal appreciation and gratitude, and that of the Holy See, for this precious service,” he said.

Pope Leo XIV noted that papal flights serve as a powerful symbol of the mission of the Successor of Peter in contemporary society, as he always travels to countries as “a messenger of peace.”

“His routes are what they always should be, namely bridges of dialogue, encounter, and fraternity,” he said.

However, the Pope observed that aircraft have frequently been used in theatres of war to spread destruction and fear.

“Airplanes should always be carriers of peace, never of war!” he said. “No one should be afraid that threats of death and destruction might come from the sky.”

Pope Leo XIV recalled the aerial bombardments of the World Wars and other conflicts, which continue even today.

“After the tragic experiences of the twentieth century, aerial bombings should have been banned forever!” he said. “Instead, they still exist, and technological development, positive in itself, is being placed at the service of war. This is not progress; it is regression!”

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV once again expressed his gratitude to the employees of ITA Airways for supporting his mission to spread the peace of the Gospel.

“In our current scenario,” he said, “it becomes even more important to trace routes of peace in the skies, and I thank you because, in the mission the Lord has entrusted to me, I know I can count on you.”

Courtesy: Vatican News