Pope Leo XIV landed in Tenerife on Friday, the final stop on his tour of Spain, which has also taken him to Madrid, Barcelona and Gran Canaria.
The pontiff’s visit to the Canary Islands has been marked by the migration crisis affecting the region, one of the main gateways to Europe for thousands of people crossing the Atlantic from Africa.
On the last day of his trip, the leader of the Catholic Church issued an appeal in support of migrants and called for efforts to protect those embarking on these dangerous routes to be stepped up, while stressing the importance of integration in host societies.
“God’s love knows no borders, makes no distinctions, is offered to all and brings us together in unity,” he said.
During a meeting in Tenerife with organisations working with migrants, Pope Leo XIV described integration as a process of shared responsibility. He explained that those arriving in a new country must learn the language, respect the law, get to know local customs and play an active part in community life.
The pontiff also warned that migrants’ difficulties do not end once they set foot on European soil. Many, he noted, face a kind of “silent shipwreck” after their arrival, finding themselves alone, without support networks, work or security, and exposed to situations of exploitation and abuse.
Hours earlier, during a visit to the Las Raíces reception centre in Tenerife, where hundreds of migrants live, Leo XIV underlined that the experience of migration is part of the human condition. “In one way or another, we are all migrants,” he told those present, recalling that from a Christian perspective, life is a shared journey towards a common destination.
The pope also used his visit to deliver a direct message to the gangs involved in people trafficking. Addressing those who organise irregular migration routes, he urged them to abandon these practices and to reflect on the suffering they cause.
Leo XIV’s stay in the Canary Islands concludes with a huge open-air Mass in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where tens of thousands of worshippers are expected to attend.