Pope Leo XIV today warned people smugglers in the Canary Islands that they will face God's wrath for exploiting the desperation of migrants and asked them to stop and repent.
The Canary Islands are the center of the African migrant route to Europe, and today is the Pope's second and final day of his visit to the archipelago, which belongs to Spain.
On both days, the pope insisted on the dignity and rights of migrants and called for their welcome and integration into society. These are some of his strongest comments on this politically sensitive topic.
"Break the chains and free those you hold in chains," Lav told people smugglers during a meeting with humanitarian organizations helping migrants on the island of Tenerife.
The Pope is ending his seven-day visit to Spain with a visit to the archipelago, which is closer to Africa than to Spain, or the Iberian Peninsula. The Canary Islands are a key entry point into Europe for migrants who embark on the perilous Atlantic crossing from West Africa.
Leo XIV is fulfilling the wish of his late predecessor, Pope Francis, to visit the Canary Islands to pay tribute to the thousands of lives lost at sea.
The lion is also attracting attention with the biblical cry "Welcome the stranger!" at a time when anti-immigrant sentiment is growing in Europe, and in the United States, Donald Trump's government is deporting migrants en masse.
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