Pope León XIV called for the dignity of migrants during a visit to Arguineguín, Gran Canaria, on Thursday [1].
The visit highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis along the Atlantic migration route. By centering personal narratives over statistics, the Pope aims to pressure international authorities to prioritize human life over bureaucratic processing.
During the event, the Pope said, “No son números ni expedientes. Su vida debe ser protegida” [2]. The statement emphasizes that migrants should not be viewed as mere numbers or files, but as human beings whose lives require protection [2].
As part of the itinerary, the Pope listened to four testimonies from migrants regarding the realities of Latin American and African migration [3]. These personal accounts provided a direct look at the hardships faced by those attempting to reach Spanish shores.
Following the testimonies, the Pope laid a floral tribute at the port to honor those who died during the journey [4]. While some reports mentioned an appearance at the airport, other accounts placed the primary events at the Arguineguín pier [2, 5].
The visit to the Canary Islands serves as a symbolic gesture against the dehumanization of displaced people. By visiting one of the primary arrival points for migrants, the pontiff brought global attention to the precarious conditions of the Atlantic route.
““No son números ni expedientes. Su vida debe ser protegida.””
This papal visit signals a continued effort by the Holy See to influence European migration policy. By framing migration as a matter of human dignity rather than a security or administrative issue, the Pope is challenging the 'files and numbers' approach used by many nation-states to manage border crossings.
