“All of Us Are Migrants,” Says Pope at Canary Islands

 

 During his visit to Spain’s Canary Islands, Pope Leo XIV delivered a strong message on migration, stressing that migration is a shared human experience and calling for greater compassion toward migrants and refugees. He argued that people should not be reduced to statistics or political issues, but recognized as human beings with dignity, families, and hopes. 

Speaking at meetings with migrants and aid workers, the Pope highlighted the dangerous Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands, where thousands have died attempting to reach Europe in recent years. He condemned human trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable people and urged governments to adopt humane migration policies. 

The pontiff also criticized what he called the world’s growing indifference to migrant suffering, emphasizing that human dignity transcends borders and nationality. During the visit, he honored migrants who died at sea by casting flowers into the Atlantic Ocean. 

Pope Leo’s trip to the Canary Islands was designed to draw international attention to the migration crisis affecting the archipelago, a major entry point into Europe for migrants traveling from Africa. 

His remarks were widely summarized by media outlets as a reminder that migration has shaped human history and that societies should respond to migrants with solidarity rather than hostility.