Leo XIV visits Gran Canaria to meet migrants and volunteers in Arguineguín before leading a large open-air mass attended by thousands on the island.
Pope Leo XIV began his visit to the Canary Islands on Thursday with a message focused on the migration crisis and the need for a shared response to one of the archipelago’s biggest challenges.
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The pontiff arrived in Gran Canaria in the morning at 10:40 local time and was greeted by the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, together with national, regional and local authorities.
In his first event on the islands, Leo XIV met with immigrants, volunteers and humanitarian workers involved in assistance efforts. During his remarks, he warned that Europe must not become accustomed to seeing the Mediterranean and Atlantic seas turned into "cemeteries without gravestones" and called for greater cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination to protect the rights of migrants. "Human dignity has no passport", he said.
The meeting in Arguineguín, regarded as one of the most symbolic moments of the visit, included testimonies from immigrants and representatives of humanitarian organisations working in the Canary Islands. The pope stressed the need to create safe and legal migration routes, strengthen reception systems and combat the criminal networks that profit from human trafficking.
After his visit to southern Gran Canaria, Pope Leo will travel to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where he will visit the Cathedral of Santa Ana and meet members of the local Church. The day will conclude with a large open-air Mass at Gran Canaria Stadium, which is expected to attract around 40,000 people.
The visit to the Canary Islands, the first ever by a pope to the archipelago, marks the final leg of Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to Spain and highlights the migration challenges faced by one of Europe’s main entry points from Africa. On Friday, the pope will continue his programme in Tenerife before returning to Rome.