The Pope said today that Europe cannot proclaim human dignity while normalizing the ongoing tragedies in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, which have effectively transformed into tombstones-less cemeteries for migrants, demanding a deep examination of conscience from political leaders and civil society.
“We cannot become accustomed to counting the dead because human dignity does not carry a passport nor does it lose value when crossing a border”, Leo XIV declared before an audience of 1,800 people, including hundreds of immigrants, at the port of Arguineguín in Gran Canaria.
The Spanish archipelago of the Canary Islands deals daily with the arrival of individuals aboard precarious boats known as pateras or cayucos sailing from African shores.
“Dear migrants, before saying any other word, I want to bow before your dignity, as you are not numbers or files, but people with families and homes left behind, holding onto dreams that no one has the right to look down upon”, the Pontiff added.
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Leo XIV argued that this ongoing human drama must become a profound turning point for the nations of origin, which are obligated to create stable conditions of peace, justice, and development.
“It must also challenge transit countries to actively protect vulnerable travelers from criminal trafficking networks, and push Europe to stop tolerating the transformation of its surrounding oceans into unmarked mass graves while simultaneously preaching human rights,” the Pope insisted.
“Human dignity demands legal and safe immigration pathways, rescue operations and assistance, real cooperation against human traffickers, effective protection for victims, serious reception and integration processes, and policies that allow every person to live with dignity in their own land”, he added.
In addition to those holding decisive responsibilities, such as civil authorities, parliaments, governments, and international organizations, the Pope explicitly addressed his message to the Catholic Church, Christian communities, other religions, and all men and women of good will. It is simply not enough to manage arrivals, distribute identification numbers, reinforce borders, and lament deaths after they have already occurred, noted the leader of the Catholic Church.
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He stressed that mercy begins with small gestures and that when a migrant is looked in the eye as a fellow human being, they cease to be just another statistic, leaving human conscience without any excuses.
The Church must also allow itself to be challenged by this crisis, as welcoming migrants cannot be treated as a secondary matter or delegated solely to a few volunteers, he stated.
Catholics kneel at the altar to worship Christ, who left a clear message of charity, and they cannot subsequently look the other way when facing the reality of incoming cayucos and pateras, the Pope stated. After expressing his gratitude to everyone involved in the rescue, reception, and accompaniment of migrants, Leo XIV left a final appeal, wishing that history will not accuse society of turning the pain of those who suffer into a regular feature of their coastal landscapes.
The Pope arrived in the Canary Islands today for a two-day visit dedicated to immigration and the phenomenon of migrant vessels, fulfilling a deep wish of his predecessor, Francis. Over these two days, Leo XIV will meet with immigrants, non-governmental organizations, and various local authorities that rescue and care for people traveling on these dangerous routes.
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One of the most symbolic moments of this papal agenda occurred today immediately upon his arrival on the islands, with his highly anticipated visit to the port of Arguineguín.
The location was infamously known as the pier of shame back in 2020 during the onset of a major migration surge toward the Canaries, when thousands of people remained crowded at the site for days on end. We want this port to stop being the pier of shame and instead become a harbor of hope, showcasing the charitable reality of thousands of integrated people, trip organizers noted.
In 2025, official data indicates that 17,788 people arrived in pateras to the Canary Islands, following record numbers in 2023 and 2024, when arrivals reached 39,910 and 46,843, respectively. An additional 3,100 people died at sea last year according to Caminando Fronteras, which classifies the Atlantic route as the deadliest in the world.
