Pope's Visit to Canary Islands Highlights Migration Crisis and Treatment of Migrants
Pope Leo is visiting Spain's Canary Islands to draw attention to the treatment of migrants, beginning Thursday with stops at migrant processing centers and meetings with over 1,000 migrants. The islands have experienced a dramatic surge in irregular migration, receiving 46,843 arrivals in 2024 compared to fewer than 1,000 in 2015, with thousands dying attempting the perilous Atlantic crossing. The papal visit aims to shift global focus from border control to human dignity and may influence European migration policy discussions.
Pope Leo is making his first papal visit to Spain's Canary Islands, beginning Thursday, to focus international attention on migrant treatment and the humanitarian crisis in the archipelago. The islands, located over 1,000 kilometers off northwestern Africa, have become a major entry point for irregular migrants from Africa and Latin America, with arrivals surging from fewer than 1,000 in 2015 to a record 46,843 in 2024. The pope will visit the port of Arguineguin on Gran Canaria—previously criticized for "subhuman conditions"—and a migrant center on Tenerife, where he will meet with over 1,000 migrants, many of whom survived deadly boat journeys. More than 3,000 people died in 2025 attempting to reach the islands, according to NGO Caminando Fronteras. Local Catholic leaders hope the visit will transform the narrative from the "port of shame" to a "port of hope" and encourage Europe to adopt more humane migration policies, while Spain's relatively open stance on migrants—including a program to grant residency to over half a million undocumented people—contrasts with restrictive policies elsewhere in Europe.
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- The Straits TimesCenter
Pope’s visit to Canary Islands puts focus on treatment of migrants
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