Francis’ flight: how the Pope’s 2018 visit to Chile also marked aviation history
Pope Francis flew on a LATAM Airbus A321 during his 2018 tour of Chile, with special flights and a historic in-flight wedding.
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During his visit to Chile in January 2018, Pope Francis left a mark not only on the spiritual and political landscape, but also on Chilean aviation, as he flew across the country on board a specially prepared LATAM Airlines Airbus A321 that hosted both official duties and a unique airborne ceremony.
While his arrival in Chile was via an Alitalia-operated long-haul flight, the domestic segments of the tour were entrusted to LATAM’s A321, registered CC-BEK. The aircraft featured special decals, including the papal crest and the official visit hashtag #ElVueloDeFrancisco, marking it as the Pope’s temporary airborne base.
On January 17, Francis flew from Santiago to Temuco on flight LAN1247, departing at 08:04 and landing just over an hour later at La Araucanía Airport. In a move highlighting the security protocols for such a visit, the flight was escorted by the Chilean Air Force (FACh) with a Boeing 737 and a KC-135E.
That same afternoon, the Pope returned to Santiago on the same aircraft. On January 18, the tour continued to Iquique, again using the A321 CC-BEK. It was on this flight that a historic event took place: Pope Francis performed a mid-air wedding for two LATAM flight attendants, Paula Podest and Carlos Ciuffardi, who had previously held a civil ceremony but had postponed their religious marriage due to the 2010 earthquake. The wedding certificate was drafted and signed on board, with LATAM CEO Ignacio Cueto acting as witness.
After the Iquique events, the Pope continued his trip to Lima, Peru, again aboard the same LATAM aircraft.
Beyond the speeches and meetings, Francis’ visit left behind a rare aviation footprint, showcasing LATAM’s capacity to operate VIP and protocol-intensive flights, and the Chilean Air Force’s involvement in high-profile missions. The A321 remained in regular commercial service after the visit, but its role as the official aircraft of the first papal visit to Chile in over 30 years has given it a special place in the country's aviation history.
And another noteworthy point. LATAM became the airline that has transported a Pope on more than two occasions outside of Alitalia or ITA operations. In 1987, the then Chilean National Airline (LAN Chile) carried Pope John Paul II throughout the country using a Boeing 737-200Adv., and for his departure from Antofagasta to Aeroparque Argentina aboard a Boeing 767-200ER.
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