Pope Visits Canary Islands to Meet Migrants and Call for Humanitarian Action

On Thursday, the Pope flew from Barcelona to the Canary Islands, where he plans to speak with about a thousand people who have crossed dangerous Atlantic waters in search of safety. He will land on Gran Canaria around 10:50 a. m. (0950 GMT) and then visit groups that support newly arrived migrants, before laying flowers at a memorial honoring those who lost their lives at sea. According to the NGO Caminando Fronteras, more than 3, 000 people died trying to reach the islands in 2025.During a recent address to the Spanish parliament, the Pope warned that the lack of help for global migrants threatens the ethical foundations of international society. Spain, which has adopted a relatively open stance on migration by offering residency to over half a million undocumented residents, faces criticism from far‑right leaders and struggles with the slow processing of legal status for many in limbo.