Pope Leo warns traffickers of divine justice as migrant crisis deepens in Canary Islands
The first American pope invokes Catholic theology in a direct appeal to human smugglers, while official data reveals record arrivals and rising death tolls in the region.
Pope Leo has issued a stern warning to human traffickers operating in the Atlantic, stating they will face God’s wrath if they continue to exploit migrants attempting to reach Europe via Spain’s Canary Islands. On Friday, during the second day of his weeklong tour of Spain, the pontiff addressed those who organise what he described as “death routes,” urging them to stop and repent.
The American pope, the first man from the United States to lead the Roman Catholic Church, spoke directly to the moral implications of the trade. “For every life lost, every family deceived … you will have to appear before divine justice,” Leo said. He invoked Catholic theology regarding confession and amends, emphasising that there is still time for those involved in the trade to seek redemption before death.
The visit to the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the western coast of Africa, serves as the culmination of a three-stop tour of Spain. The islands have become a primary gateway for migrants crossing the Atlantic, often in improvised and overcrowded small craft. The pontiff’s intervention follows earlier comments during the same tour, where he warned world leaders that history would condemn those who allow people fleeing war or poverty to suffer.
Official data underscores the scale of the movement through the region. Migration to the islands peaked in 2024 with 46,843 arrivals, a significant increase from fewer than 1,000 in 2015. The human cost is stark; according to the NGO Caminando Fronteras, more than 3,000 people died attempting the crossing last year. The islands are located more than 1,000km from mainland Spain, highlighting the logistical and humanitarian challenges of the route.
During the visit, Pope Leo stopped at an interim housing centre in Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, to hear testimonies from arrivals. The facility has received approximately 70,000 people since it opened in 2021. Among those who spoke to the pontiff was Bousso Diouf, who stated that migrants are not seeking special privileges, but rather “respect, humanity and the opportunity to live with dignity.”
