Pope wants to make the refugee drama on the Canary Islands visible

Pope Leo XIV is set to visit the Canary Islands, marking the first time a pontiff has ever set foot on the Spanish archipelago. The visit, part of his larger trip to Spain beginning Saturday, aims to bring the world's attention to the critical migrant situation unfolding off the coast of West Africa. In 2024 alone, approximately 50,000 African boat migrants reached the islands.

The head of the Catholic Church has consistently voiced concern over the global migration crisis. He has previously criticized the U.S. president for the persecution and deportation of undocumented immigrants, drawing sharp rebuke. During his April trip to Africa, the Pope reiterated that while states have the right to control their borders and manage migration, the inhumane treatment of those fleeing hardship is unacceptable. "Migrants are human beings and must be treated as such with respect and dignity, and must not be treated worse than animals," he stated unequivocally.

Originally, Pope Francis had also planned a visit to the Canary Islands for the same reason, but his passing prevented the trip. Now, Pope Leo XIV will undertake this mission after stops in Madrid and Barcelona. Although his stay on the islands will be brief, June 11th on Gran Canaria and only a few hours on Tenerife the following day, the visit holds immense significance for the regional government and migrant aid organizations.

According to Fernando Clavijo, the president of the islands, the international media attention generated by the papal visit presents a "chance to increase pressure on Spain and the EU to react more strongly to the rescue, reception, and distribution of migrants." The Canary Islands have reached their "social and infrastructural limits" due to recent waves of refugees. The increasing number of unaccompanied minors has particularly strained the islands' reception structures, with capacities being nearly tripled by 5,000 minors. After lengthy political negotiations, regional governments on the Spanish mainland agreed to accept a few hundred minor migrants from the Canary Islands, a responsibility they are legally obligated to fulfill.