All of us are migrants, says pope at Canary Islands​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Pope Leo XIV declared that "all of us are migrants" during a visit to a reception center for irregular immigrants on Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. This statement came on the final day of his weeklong trip to Spain, which focused on the humanitarian crisis faced by those seeking a better life in Europe.

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In a sense, all of us are migrants, for we are all pilgrims on our way to our heavenly homeland.

The Pope's message to hundreds of migrants at the Las Raices reception center underscored a call for a more humane journey for everyone. He framed the human experience as a pilgrimage towards a heavenly homeland, urging collective contribution to make this journey better for all. The visit to Tenerife followed stops in Madrid and Barcelona, and included a visit to Gran Canaria.

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Human dignity has no passport.

During his time in the Canary Islands, Pope Leo XIV condemned "indifference" towards migrants and paid tribute to the thousands who have perished attempting the perilous journey from Africa. He cast a wreath into the sea at the port of Arguineguin, honoring their memory. The Pope forcefully stated, "Human dignity has no passport," and warned of the dangers posed by traffickers who exploit vulnerable individuals, including women and children.

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Monsters lurk in these seas… traffickers who enslave women and children, and those whose indifference allows the poor to be swallowed up by exploitation or forgetfulness.

According to the International Organization for Migration, nearly 1,200 people died or went missing traveling to the Canary Islands last year, making it one of the world's deadliest migration routes. The Pope criticized Europe's toughened policies, arguing that the continent cannot uphold human dignity while its waters become "unmarked graves." He appealed to the conscience of nations of origin and transit, urging them to address the poverty and conflict that drive people to fall prey to trafficking gangs. Mohamed Amjahdi, a migrant from Morocco, described the Pope's visit as "very important for us at such a critical moment."

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We really value this visit. It’s very important for us at such a critical moment.