Pope Leo is travelling to the Canary Islands as the final stop of his Spain visit, where he will meet migrants and highlight the need for more humane treatment of immigrants. The visit is being framed as a significant moment because the islands are a key entry point for people making dangerous Atlantic crossings to Europe.
Juan Carlos Lorenzo of the Spanish Commission for Refugees said the pope’s meeting with around 1,000 migrants is a “significant milestone”. The trip comes as Leo has also warned during his Spain tour that rising conflicts have pushed the world into a profound crisis.
Rewrite: Pope Leo heads to the Canary Islands on the final leg of his Spain trip, where he will meet migrants and call for more humane treatment of immigrants.
“It will serve as a strong affirmation of the defense of human rights, respect, and the dignity that all people deserve, regardless of their origin,” said Lorenzo.
Leo was due to land on Gran Canaria, one of the main islands, around 10:50 a.m. (0950 GMT). On arrival, he will meet with several groups that help recently arrived migrants before laying flowers at a memorial to migrants lost at sea.
More than 3,000 people died in 2025 trying to reach the Canary Islands, according to the NGO Caminando Fronteras.
Leo, who has spoken forcefully against the direction of global leadership in recent months, told the Spanish parliament on Monday that a lack of help for the world’s migrants was challenging “the ethical foundation of the international order”.
In contrast to most of Europe, Spain has adopted a more open stance on migrants, introducing a programme to grant residency to more than half a million undocumented people.
The initiative, however, has drawn criticism from far-right leaders in Spain and across the continent, and the country is struggling with the slow pace of granting legal status to thousands in limbo