Pope Leo XIV Calls for Migrant Dignity, Denounces Exploitation as "Monsters" in Historic Canary Islands Visit

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria – June 11, 2026

Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful address on Thursday at the Port of Arguineguín in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, calling for the protection of migrant dignity and condemning those who exploit vulnerable people seeking safety in Europe. The visit marked the first official papal trip to the Canary Islands.

Key Statements from the Pope

During his speech, the Pope made several striking declarations:

"Human dignity has no passport and does not lose its value when crossing a border."

He described individuals who exploit migrants as "monsters" and urged a fundamental shift in perception—to see migrants not as faceless groups but as individuals with inherent worth.

"You are not just numbers or files... You have dreams that no one has the right to despise."

The Pope also addressed migrants directly, offering words of solidarity while issuing a stark warning against traffickers, whom he characterized as "industries of death" whose promises he likened to "siren songs."

He urged European nations not to become desensitized to the ongoing deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean and Atlantic.

Context of the Visit

The visit comes one year and eight months after Pope Francis expressed a desire in September 2024 to travel to the Canary Islands due to the surge in migrant arrivals by sea.

The Port of Arguineguín was used in 2020 as a temporary reception center for over 2,600 migrants, where conditions were widely criticized as inadequate. Local organizations have since sought to rebrand the site as a "port of hope," though it has also been referred to as the "Port of Shame."

Migration Statistics

According to the organization Caminando Fronteras:

• Nearly 3,090 people died in 2025 attempting to reach Spain via the Canary or Balearic Islands routes.
• 1,300 people died in the first six months of 2026 alone.

European Union Policy

The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum is scheduled to take effect on Friday. Human-rights organizations have warned that the pact may enable large-scale deportations to camps in Africa, raising concerns about the treatment of those seeking protection.

Other Speakers and Church Response

Tito Villarmea, captain of the salvage boat Guardamar Urania, shared a haunting account of his crew's work, saying they have saved over 20,000 people. He recounted an incident involving a woman mourning her daughter who died during the journey, and stated:

"I wish we didn't have to save anyone again."

The Rev. Fernando Redondo, who oversees the Spanish bishops' migration office, expressed concern about increasingly restrictive European political measures.

Catholic Church Assistance

• Catholic charities currently provide assistance to over 220,000 migrants in the Canary Islands, including more than 2,000 minors.
• The local church signed a 2023 "Atlantic hospitality" agreement with African countries to coordinate assistance for migrants.

Schedule of the Papal Visit

In addition to the address at the Port of Arguineguín, Pope Leo XIV's schedule includes:

• Meeting with clergy, religious, and pastoral workers at the Cathedral of Saint Anne
• Mass at the Gran Canaria Stadium, with an expected attendance of 50,000, including non-Christians and Muslims