Pope Leo visits Canary Islands to spotlight deadly migrant route

Pope Leo traveled to Spain’s Canary Islands on June 11 for the final leg of his weeklong trip, turning attention to one of Europe’s deadliest migration routes. In Gran Canaria and Tenerife, he was set to meet recently arrived migrants, church and aid groups, and honor those who died at sea by laying flowers at a memorial. The visit highlights crossings from West Africa to the Spanish archipelago, where thousands have perished and where Arguineguin became known in 2020 as the “dock of shame” after migrants were left in squalid conditions. Spain has taken a more open line on immigration than many European countries, while Pope Leo has pressed for humane treatment, safer legal pathways and stronger action against smuggling networks.