Pope Leo used his Canary Islands visit to defend migrants, condemn traffickers and press Europe to protect people risking deadly Atlantic crossings. The islands received a record 46,843 migrants in 2024, while thousands died trying to reach Spain.
Posts tagged as “Tenerife”
Pope Leo appealed for humane treatment of migrants during a visit to the Canary Islands, warning that dignity “has no passport.” The trip comes as Spain expands legal status for many undocumented migrants while a new EU pact tightens border and deportation rules.
Seventeen Americans evacuated from a hantavirus-affected cruise ship have arrived in Nebraska for monitoring, with two passengers showing signs of infection. The rare Andes strain involved is transmissible between humans, but officials stress the public risk remains low.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will personally oversee the evacuation of passengers from a hantavirus-affected cruise ship arriving in Tenerife. Despite three deaths and eight cases, officials say the public health risk remains low.


