Pope Leo XIV Visits Migrants at Gran Canaria Port, Calls for Safe Legal Pathways
Pope Leo XIV traveled to Gran Canaria, Spain, on June 12, 2026, to meet with migrants at the port known as the "Port of Shame." He called on European nations to create safe, legal migration routes and said human dignity is not defined by a passport.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Gran Canaria, Spain, on June 12, 2026, visiting the port where thousands of migrants from West Africa arrive each year by boat. The site has been called the "Port of Shame" by critics who say conditions there are inadequate.
The Pope met with migrants, aid workers, and local officials during his visit. He urged European governments to open legal pathways for migration, saying that people fleeing poverty and violence deserve protection regardless of their nationality.
"Human dignity is not defined by a passport," the Pope said during remarks at the port. He called on faith communities across Europe to support migrants and refugees in their local areas.
The visit drew attention to the ongoing migration crisis in the Canary Islands, where arrivals by sea have increased sharply in recent years. Local authorities have struggled to provide adequate shelter and services for the growing number of people arriving.
Catholic aid organizations working in the region welcomed the Pope's visit. Representatives from Caritas and other groups said the papal attention would help raise awareness of conditions at the port and push for policy changes.
The trip was part of a broader papal focus on migration issues. Pope Leo has spoken repeatedly about the moral obligation of wealthy nations to assist those fleeing hardship, and this visit put that message in direct, visible terms.
