Pope warns human traffickers they face God’s wrath

Pope Francis directly addressed human traffickers during his visit to Spain's Canary Islands, warning them they would face "divine justice" for exploiting desperate migrants.

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Stop. Repent. For every life lost, every family deceived … you will have to appear before divine justice.

"Stop. Repent," the Pope urged, speaking to those who "take advantage of people’s desperation [or] organise death routes." He invoked the Catholic belief that unrepented evil acts lead to hell, imploring traffickers to "repent while there is still time." The Pope's strong words came during his second day in the Canary Islands, a key European gateway for African migrants.

Throughout his weeklong tour of Spain, Pope Francis consistently highlighted the "inherent dignity and rights of migrants." He called on global leaders to provide welcome and integration for those fleeing war or poverty. He also warned that "history would condemn" leaders who allowed such suffering.

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Repent while there is still time.

The Canary Islands have seen a significant increase in migration, receiving 46,843 migrants in 2024, a stark rise from fewer than 1,000 in 2015. Tragically, over 3,000 people died last year attempting the dangerous Atlantic crossing to reach the islands, according to the NGO Caminando Fronteras. The Pope visited an interim housing center in Tenerife, where he heard testimonies from migrants, including one woman who stated they sought "respect, humanity and the opportunity to live with dignity."

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respect, humanity and the opportunity to live with dignity.