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 “the Canary Island”
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.
Pope Leo XIV began a weeklong visit to Spain by urging people to reject polarisation and defend peace. The trip includes a youth rally in Madrid, an address to parliament, a visit to the Sagrada Familia and a stop in the Canary Islands focused on migration.
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.
A hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship M/V Hondius has led to nine cases and three deaths, prompting international quarantine and monitoring efforts. The Andes virus strain involved can spread between people through close contact and causes severe respiratory illness.