Pope Leo XIV to Visit Migrants on Canary Islands Route

From 6 to 12 June, Pope Leo XIV will pay his first visit to a European Union country outside Italy. The week-long trip to Spain will culminate in a meeting with migrants in the Canary Islands who risked their lives crossing dangerous Atlantic waters to reach Europe.

Catholic charity officials describe the visit as a clear gesture of solidarity with migrants.

The director of Caritas Canarias, Caya Suárez Ortega, said the visit would send a signal that the Pope stood “shoulder to shoulder” with migrants. Many of those invited, she added, reacted to news of the meeting with enormous gratitude.

The migration route to the Canary Islands is one of the most dangerous in the world. According to the NGO Caminando Fronteras, more than 3,000 people died in 2025 trying to reach the archipelago, often on makeshift vessels.

Leo XIV has previously criticized harsh anti-immigration measures. His visit comes as the Spanish government has opened a mass amnesty program allowing an estimated 500,000 immigrants to apply for legal status.

During his stay, the Pope will also address the Spanish Parliament and meet with the country’s top officials.

(reuters, mja)