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Pope Leo XIV denounces indifference to migrants in Canary Islands

11 June 2026 09:14

Pope Leo XIV visited the Canary Islands on June 11, 2026, to denounce indifference toward migrants. - He spoke at the port of ArguineguĂ­n, once called the 'dock of shame' due to squalid conditions in 2020.

- He threw flowers into the sea to honor thousands who died on the Atlantic migration route. - He urged Europe and Christian leaders to protect migrant rights and not grow accustomed to deaths at sea.

- Arrivals in the Canary Islands have dropped sharply from 47,000 in 2024 to 3,000 in early 2026 after EU deals. The pope's visit fulfilled a wish of Pope Francis and highlighted the ongoing crisis of migration and human trafficking.

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IndependencepoliticsreligionmigrationInyo CountyBreaking