Pope Leo visits Canary Islands to spotlight migrant journeys
Pope Leo XIV is taking a 7‑day tour of Spain, and a key stop is the Canary Islands, where he will speak about the real dangers that thousands of migrants face each year while trying to reach Europe.
In 2025 a 19‑year‑old Gambian named Bakary Jaiju left his wife and baby behind, hopped onto a small wooden boat and braved seven days in the Atlantic. By now he lives in Tenerife, thanks in part to a Spanish scheme that lets people who arrived before December 2023 regularise their status.
His story is one of many the Pope will share. He will drop flowers in memory of those who never made it, while urging governments to open 'safe and legal pathways' instead of throwing people off the coast.
But Spain’s move to regularise has hit the political headlines – conservatives say it 'invites more migrants' and could hurt the health system, while the government says it fills a labour‑market gap and saves lives.
Meanwhile the EU is tightening borders, making it easier for patrols to detain and deport those arriving by sea. The policy will be tested right next to the Canary Islands, where officials warn that tourists and workers are already short‑stretched.
