Vatican City: As Pope Leo XIV arrived in the Canary Islands on Thursday, the Catholic charity Caritas highlighted the urgent challenges faced by migrants arriving on the Spanish archipelago and reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to supporting those seeking a better life.
Pope’s visit to the Canary Islands marks the final stage of his six day Apostolic Journey to the Iberian Peninsula. After visiting Madrid and Barcelona, he is spending one day in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and another in Tenerife, with a particular focus on migration, one of the most pressing issues facing the region.
The Canary Islands have long been a key destination for migrants attempting the dangerous Atlantic crossing from the African coast. Although Spanish authorities have reported a significant decline in migrant arrivals during the first months of 2026 compared with the previous year, many people continue to reach the islands after risking their lives at sea.
According to Caritas, the decrease in arrivals is linked to agreements between Spain and several West African countries aimed at limiting migration flows. However, the charity stressed that the humanitarian needs of migrants already living in the islands remain significant.
Speaking to Vatican News, Caya Suárez Ortega, Secretary General of Caritas Diocesana de Canarias, said the Church continues to stand beside people who often find themselves without adequate support.
“The Church is present where the state is absent,” she said during a conference in Rome in May, reflecting on the difficult realities faced by many vulnerable people in the region.
Caritas reported that more than a quarter of the population in Las Palmas experiences social exclusion or poverty, a situation that particularly affects migrants. Many newcomers arrive without stable housing, employment opportunities, or the legal documentation necessary to begin a new life.
The organisation provides legal assistance, educational guidance, social support, and help with basic needs such as food and accommodation. It also assists migrants in securing housing and work permits, helping them integrate into local society.
Housing remains one of the biggest concerns. Caritas has warned that unfair housing practices are becoming increasingly common, pushing many migrant families into unstable living conditions and increasing the risk of homelessness.
Young migrants who arrive alone are especially vulnerable. To support them, Caritas operates the Hospitality Corridors project, which offers accommodation, guidance, and opportunities for integration. The programme seeks to prevent young people from ending up on the streets and helps them build a stable future.
In 2025 alone, more than 22,000 people received assistance from Caritas in the Canary Islands. Around 56 percent of those helped were migrants, and nearly half were living in an irregular administrative situation. The charity said the number of people receiving support increased by two percent compared with the previous year.
Pope’s visit also shines a spotlight on one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. The journey from the African coast to the Canary Islands covers more than 1,600 kilometres across the Atlantic Ocean. Migrants often spend days in overcrowded and fragile boats facing dangerous weather conditions. Many do not survive the journey.
Suárez said papal attention has helped draw international awareness to a crisis that often goes unnoticed because of the islands’ geographical distance from mainland Europe.
She noted that both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV have consistently urged the world to recognise the dignity of migrants and pay closer attention to their struggles.
A central moment of the Pope’s visit will take place at the Port of ArguineguĂn in Gran Canaria, where he is scheduled to meet migrants, aid workers, and organisations involved in rescue and support efforts.
Caritas said migrants themselves have played a major role in planning the event. Organisers worked closely with those who experienced the journey and those who accompany them, ensuring that migrants would be at the heart of the gathering.
The meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for migrants to share their personal stories with Pope Leo and with the wider world, highlighting both the hardships they have endured and the hope that continues to drive them in search of a better future.
For Caritas, Pope’s presence in the Canary Islands sends a powerful message that migrants are not forgotten and that their dignity and humanity remain at the centre of the Church’s mission.