A call from the port of Arguineguín
This Thursday, Pope Leo XIV visited the port of Arguineguín, in the Canary Islands, one of the points of greatest arrival of migrants to Europe. From there, he called for respect for his dignity and rights.
“Human dignity does not depend on a nationality nor is it lost when crossing a border,” the pontiff recalled. He asked governments to avoid indifference in the face of migratory tragedies.
The place was singled out in 2020 for the conditions suffered by hundreds of people, who spent weeks in makeshift camps without adequate services. Today, the Canary Islands continue to be a key route for migrants from West Africa.
Tribute at sea
Leo XIV also paid tribute to those who have lost their lives on the journey. Accompanied by migrants, he threw flowers into the ocean, a gesture similar to that of Pope Francis in Lampedusa in 2013.
The pontiff urged countries of origin, transit and destination to protect migrants and combat human trafficking networks. He warned that Europe cannot get used to its seas becoming places of suffering without recognizing the human stories behind it.




