Pope Leo warns history will judge leaders who ignore migrant deaths

ARGUINEGUÍN, Spain — Pope Leo XIV on Thursday delivered one of the strongest appeals of his pontificate on migration, warning that history would condemn political leaders and societies that remain indifferent to the deaths and suffering of migrants seeking safety and opportunity across dangerous sea routes to Europe.

Speaking at the port of Arguineguín in Spain’s Canary Islands, the pontiff called on governments, institutions, and individuals to uphold the dignity and rights of migrants, regardless of their legal status or nationality.

“Human dignity has no passport and does not lose its value when crossing a border,” Leo said during a ceremony held beside rescue vessels and a wooden cross fashioned from the remains of a migrant boat wreck.

The pope’s visit marked the culmination of a weeklong trip to Spain and fulfilled a wish expressed by his predecessor, Pope Francis, to visit the Canary Islands, a key gateway for migrants attempting to reach Europe from West Africa.

The Canary Islands, located off the northwest coast of Africa, have become one of Europe’s most significant migration entry points. The Atlantic route connecting West Africa to the Spanish archipelago is widely regarded by migration experts as one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors.

During the ceremony, Pope Leo honored migrants who have died at sea by casting a bouquet of flowers into the Atlantic Ocean. The symbolic act echoed a gesture made by Pope Francis in 2013 during his visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa, where he denounced what he called the “globalization of indifference” toward migrants and refugees.

Addressing migrants gathered at the port, Leo urged the international community to recognize their humanity and protect their rights.

“Dear migrants, before saying anything else to you, I want to bow before your dignity,” the pope said as he lowered his head before the crowd.

He also addressed women who had experienced human trafficking and sexual exploitation, assuring them that their worth and dignity remained intact despite the abuses they had suffered.

“If others have put a price on your body, know that God has never ceased to recognize your inestimable worth,” he said.

The pope called on countries of origin to create economic opportunities and security conditions that would reduce forced migration. He also urged transit countries to protect vulnerable migrants from smugglers and traffickers.

At the same time, Leo appealed directly to European nations, warning against becoming desensitized to repeated migrant deaths in the Mediterranean and Atlantic seas.

“May history not accuse us of turning the pain of those who suffer into a common sight along our shores,” he said. “Sooner or later, it will be known whether we protected life or whether we yielded to indifference.”

The port of Arguineguín holds particular significance in Europe’s migration debate. In 2020, a surge in migrant arrivals overwhelmed local facilities, forcing thousands of people to remain for weeks in makeshift camps on the dock under poor living conditions. Human rights advocates criticized the treatment of migrants, prompting Spain’s ombudsman to intervene and order the closure of the temporary camp. Many migrants were subsequently relocated to hotels left vacant during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Migration flows to the Canary Islands reached nearly 47,000 arrivals in 2024, according to Spanish authorities. However, arrivals declined sharply following cooperation agreements between Spain, the European Union, and several West African governments. Just over 3,000 migrants reached the islands during the first five months of 2026.

Despite the decline, humanitarian organizations continue to warn about the dangers of the Atlantic crossing. According to the International Organization for Migration’s Missing Migrants Project, at least 6,600 people have died or disappeared along the route since records began in 2014. The agency notes that the actual number is likely far higher because many shipwrecks go unreported. Spanish migrant-rights organization Walking Borders estimates that more than 25,000 people have died or gone missing while attempting to reach the Canary Islands since 2020.

Among those present during the pope’s visit was Mame Amandou Neang, a 56-year-old migrant from Senegal who arrived in Arguineguín earlier this year.

“This is a great honor,” Neang said. “We hope that if we see him, all our problems will stay behind us.”

Migration has remained a central theme of the Catholic Church’s advocacy under both Francis and Leo. Pope Francis made support for migrants and refugees a defining feature of his papacy, frequently urging nations to welcome displaced people and uphold humanitarian obligations.

Pope Leo has continued that emphasis since his election, repeatedly highlighting the dignity of migrants and refugees, including in discussions surrounding immigration policies in the United States.

The Vatican announced that the American-born pope will travel to the Italian island of Lampedusa on July 4, continuing a tradition established by Francis and reinforcing the Church’s call for greater compassion toward migrants and refugees worldwide.