Pope Leo XIV visited Arguineguín, a former hotspot of Europe’s migration crisis, urging leaders to respect migrant rights. He criticized those who dismiss migrants with indifference, emphasizing their inherent dignity.
Speaking from the port in the Canary Islands—a key entry point for migrants crossing from West Africa—Leo addressed the issue of dire living conditions faced by arrivals in 2020, when the port was labeled the “dock of shame.” With rescue vessels and a wooden cross from a shipwrecked migrant vessel nearby, he declared, “Human dignity has no passport and does not lose its value when crossing a border.”
Leo’s two-day visit to the Canary Islands marks the end of his week-long trip to Spain, fulfilling Pope Francis’ desire to honor those lost at sea. During the event, Leo heaved a bouquet of flowers into the ocean, echoing a similar gesture made by Francis in Lampedusa in 2013. This action symbolizes opposition to global indifference towards migrants.
Pope Leo XIV casts flowers into the sea, accompanied by migrants, during an event with organizations aiding migrants in Arguineguín, Canary Islands, Spain, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo: AP/Alessandra Tarantino)
A Visit to the ‘Dock of Shame’
The Canary Islands have long been a migration gateway from West Africa and Morocco to Europe. Experts view the Atlantic path as more hazardous than the central Mediterranean route. Migrant numbers peaked in 2024 at nearly 47,000 but have now reduced to around 3,000 in the first five months of 2026, attributed to EU and Spanish agreements with African nations.
Upon arrival, Leo headed to Arguineguín port, where 2020’s influx forced migrants to live in poor conditions without basic facilities. Asylum seekers lacked legal aid, and some were detained for long periods, exceeding legal limits. Eventually, the authorities closed the camp, relocating migrants to empty hotels left vacant by COVID-19.
Pope Leo XIV meets organizations supporting migrants in Arguineguín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Photo: AP/Arturo Rodriguez)
Upholding Human Dignity
At the port, Leo sat under a canopy, listening to stories from rescue workers and a Nigerian human trafficking survivor. A banner renaming the port as “Dock of Hope” was displayed. Leo expressed his respect for the migrants’ dignity, acknowledging the value God places on them despite human disregard.
He called for stronger efforts from countries of origin to ensure safety and economic conditions that deter migration, for transit nations to safeguard migrants, and for Europe to not become accustomed to sea deaths. His speech focused on migrants’ rights without referencing national border controls, emphasizing that Christians cannot ignore migrant struggles.
“May history not accuse us of turning the plight of sufferers into a common sight on our shores,” Leo said. “Each arrival at the sea questions our humanity. It will soon be clear if we safeguarded life or yielded to indifference.” Among those present was Mame Amandou Neang, a migrant from Senegal, who expressed hope for better circumstances following Leo’s visit.
The International Organization for Migration has documented around 6,600 death figures on the Atlantic route since 2014 but notes underreporting. Migration rights organizations estimate over 25,000 deaths or disappearances on the way to the Canaries since 2020.
Pope Leo XIV’s Continued Focus on Migrants
Following Pope Francis’ legacy of advocating for refugees, Leo has highlighted migrants’ dignity, particularly during administrative crackdowns in the USA. On July 4, he plans a visit to Lampedusa, continuing Francis’ message against the world’s complacency towards migrants.
Reporting by Winfield from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, with contributions from Brito in Barcelona, Spain.
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