Pope Leo XIV's Stern Message to Migrant Traffickers Signals Continuity with Francis

Pope Leo XIV delivered a stern message to human traffickers during his final day in Spain, directly addressing those who profit from the desperation of migrants attempting the perilous Atlantic crossing to the Canary Islands. "Stop. Convert yourselves," the American pontiff urged in Spanish during an encounter with humanitarian organizations assisting migrants in Tenerife. He warned that traffickers would face divine justice for every life lost, every family deceived, and every person exploited.

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Stop. Convert yourselves.

The Pope's strong words on migration, a politically sensitive issue in Europe and his native United States, came as he concluded a week-long tour of Spain. In the Canary Islands, he embraced a key theme of his predecessor, Pope Francis, reaffirming the Christian obligation to "welcome the foreigner." This stance stands in contrast to the growing anti-immigrant rhetoric prevalent in many parts of Europe.

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For every life lost, every family deceived, every body subjected, every woman threatened, every worker exploited, you will have to appear before divine justice.

"Break these chains and free those you hold in bondage. Return what has been taken and repair what you can," Leo XIV implored the traffickers. He added, "Return while there is still time, because the mercy of God can reach even the most hardened sinner, but it only enters through the narrow gate of truth, justice, and conversion."

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Break these chains and free those you hold in bondage. Return what has been taken and repair what you can.

The Canary Islands have become a major entry point into Europe for migrants from West Africa and Morocco. Many undertake the dangerous journey in precarious, overcrowded vessels, often controlled by criminal networks. While arrivals peaked in 2024, the route remains one of the deadliest, with some experts considering it more lethal than the central Mediterranean route due to the vastness of the ocean and limited rescue resources. The Pope's plane also experienced a technical issue, forcing him to deplane before departing Tenerife for Rome.

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Return while there is still time, because the mercy of God can reach even the most hardened sinner, but it only enters through the narrow gate of truth, justice, and conversion.