Pope Leo XIV Urges World Leaders to Protect Migrants

During a visit to the Canary Islands, Pope Leo XIV called on world leaders to treat migrants more humanely. Speaking at one of Europe's main migration hubs, he warned that history would judge how the international community had dealt with people fleeing war and poverty.

The first American pope described his address as an "appeal to the conscience" and stressed that human dignity is not lost by crossing borders.

At the port of Arguineguin on the island of Gran Canaria, also known as the "Dock of Shame", he urged those present not to become accustomed to reports of migrants dying at sea. Standing before a memorial to migration victims, he said that future generations would judge whether society had protected human lives or succumbed to indifference.

During the visit, he met representatives of humanitarian organizations, volunteers and migrants. He heard the account of a lifeboat captain who said that over 18 years he had helped rescue around 20,000 migrants. The pope also spoke with a Nigerian woman who described her experiences of human trafficking and sexual abuse during her journey to Europe.

Leo XIV, who has drawn criticism from US President Donald Trump in recent months over his reservations about Trump's anti-immigration policies, also called for the creation of legal and safe migration routes, action against human trafficking and greater support for search and rescue operations at sea.

(reuters, max)