Key facts
- Pope Leo XIV is visiting the Canary Islands to highlight the plight of migrants.
- He will meet with migrants and humanitarian organizations in Arguineguin, a site known as the "dock of shame".
- Spain's government has defended immigration and launched a legalization push.
- The Pope previously addressed Spain's parliament, advocating for migrant rights and human dignity.
- Migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands have fallen significantly since a 2024 peak.
Pope Leo XIV is visiting the Canary Islands to draw attention to the plight of migrants who risk their lives attempting to reach Europe, fulfilling a wish of Pope Francis. The Spanish archipelago is a key entry point for migrants smuggled from West Africa.
During his visit, the Pope will meet with recently arrived migrants and representatives of the church and humanitarian organizations. He is also scheduled to visit Arguineguin, a port that became known as the “dock of shame” in 2020 due to the squalid conditions migrants faced upon arrival. Thousands of lives have been lost at sea attempting this crossing.
Spain's government, under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has defended immigration on economic and humanitarian grounds, implementing a legalization push for unauthorized immigrants. Sánchez has emphasized the benefits of immigration to an aging workforce and low birth rate.
Earlier in his trip, Pope Leo XIV addressed Spain's parliament, the first-ever papal address to the body, advocating for migrant rights and human dignity. He called for strengthened international efforts to prevent human smuggling, create safe pathways for legal movement, and foster development in countries of origin. He insisted on the inherent dignity of all individuals, including the unborn, elderly, and sick.
Migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands peaked in 2024 but have since fallen dramatically. Pope Francis, who made the plight of refugees a hallmark of his papacy, had planned to visit the Canary Islands during a previous crisis but was unable to. Pope Leo XIV has continued this focus, particularly in the United States amid its immigration policies. The Pope is also scheduled to visit Lampedusa, Sicily, on July 4, another significant point of entry for migrants.