Pope Leo concluded his week-long tour of Spain with a warning to human traffickers who exploit migrants travelling to Europe via the Canary Islands. The Pontiff called on them to repent, warning that otherwise they would face divine justice. During his visit, he also met with female migrants and called for a humane approach towards refugees.
- Pope Leo XIV has called on those who smuggle migrants in the Canary Islands to repent.
- In 2025, more than 3,000 migrants died trying to reach the Canary Islands.
- Spain has introduced a regularisation programme for over 500,000 migrants.
- On 12 June, the EU fully implemented its new Migration Pact.
Pope Leo issued a stern warning to human traffickers
Pope Leo XIV During his visit to the Canary Islands, he strongly condemned the activities of human traffickers who exploit migrants attempting to reach Europe. He called on them to «stop» and «repent», stressing that every life lost and every family deceived would face «divine justice». The Pontiff recalled the Catholic teaching that sins must be confessed, otherwise the soul will end up in hell.
The Canary Islands are one of the main migration routes to Europe
The Canary Islands, located over 1,000 km from Spain, are one of the main destinations the arrival of migrants from Africa to Europe. In 2024, 46,843 illegal migrants were recorded arriving on the islands, whereas in 2015 the figure was less than a thousand. According to the NGO Caminando Fronteras, in 2025 more than 3,000 people died during the perilous journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
The exploitation of migrants and the rise in cybercrime
In its 2025 report, Europol highlights that criminal groups are adapting to modern conditions by using the internet to recruit and exploit migrants. Last year, the Spanish police uncovered networks involved in human trafficking, specifically exploiting Ukrainian women, as well as deceiving more than a thousand women with false job offers before forcing them into prostitution.
The Pope’s meetings with migrant women and calls for humanity
During a visit to a temporary accommodation centre in Tenerife, which has taken in around 70,000 migrants since 2021, Pope Leo listened to the testimonies of refugees. One of the women, Bousso Diouf, ... appealed to the Pope, asking not for privileges, but for «respect, humanity and the chance to live with dignity». The Pope emphasised that the «tears and blood» of migrants who are being exploited «cry out to God».
Spain and new immigration schemes
Unlike most European countries, Spain has introduced a regularisation programme for over half a million migrants without documents. However, the process is moving slowly, and the country is facing criticism from right-wing politicians. On the very day the Pope was in the Canary Islands, a new Migration Pact, which tightens asylum rules.
The significance of the Pope’s message for Europe
Pope Leo XIV is the first American pontiff, and with this visit he is highlighting his concern about global crises and the humanitarian situation. His appeals to world leaders and human traffickers serve as a reminder of their responsibility for the fate of millions of migrants seeking safety and dignity in Europe.
