On the second day of his visit to the Canary Islands, Pope Leo issued a direct warning to human traffickers who 'exploit human desperation and organize deadly routes.' The pope declared: 'Stop. Repent. Every life lost, every family deceived… you will stand before divine justice.'
Pope Leo, the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, is on a week-long tour of Spain. Throughout the trip, he has emphasized the inherent dignity and rights of migrants, calling on global leaders to welcome and integrate them into society.
The Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of West Africa, is one of the main gateways to Europe for migrants. They face a perilous journey across the Atlantic Ocean in cramped and makeshift boats. Official figures show the number of migrants arriving has surged from fewer than 1,000 in 2015 to 46,843 in 2024.
NGO Caminando Fronteras estimates that more than 3,000 people died last year trying to reach the islands. The pope also visited a temporary shelter on Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, which has housed about 70,000 people since opening in 2021. There he listened to testimonies from migrants. A woman named Bousso Diouf told the pope that migrants do not want privileges, only 'respect, humanity, and the opportunity to live with dignity.'
