Pope calls for compassion for migrants during Tenerife visit
Pope Leo XIV visited a migrant reception centre on the Spanish island of Tenerife, highlighting the struggles faced by irregular immigrants. Addressing hundreds of migrants, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the shared human experience of migration and urged for greater support and humane treatment. His visit included stops at several key locations in the Canary Islands, where he condemned indifference and exploitation faced by migrants. The pope’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about migration policies in Europe.
What we know
- Pope Leo XIV told migrants at Las Raices centre that “all of us are migrants,” stressing empathy and solidarity.
- He condemned traffickers and indifference, calling for more action to help migrants and honouring those who died trying to reach the Canary Islands.
- The pope celebrated mass in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and visited Gran Canaria, where he cast a wreath into the sea for lost migrants.
- Nearly 1,200 people died or went missing on the Africa-Canary Islands route last year, according to the International Organization for Migration.
- Mohamed Amjahdi, a migrant from Morocco, described the pope’s visit as very important during a critical moment for migrants.
