It was Pope Leo XIV’s final event in Spain: the celebration of Mass at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. After receiving a warm welcome from the thousands of faithful, the pope highlighted the importance of the work for migrants he witnessed on the Canary Islands.
POPE LEO XIV
It is a mystery that resonates in a particularly profound way on these islands, situated at the heart of migration routes that make them a place of first welcome for brothers and sisters whose journeys are often exposed to unspeakable dangers and violence. In the face of those who exploit desperation, we Christians can do more than simply offer assistance: we can reflect the Lord who says, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’
On the same day as the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pope Leo emphasized the responsibility of Christians to welcome the most vulnerable, the poor, and the needy, as those on the Canary Islands have done.
POPE LEO XIV
Thank you for who you are and for what you do, making this island a place where one can encounter the Heart of Christ in the friendly and hospitable faces of people and fraternal communities.
After six days of unique, historic, and unforgettable moments, the pope once again expressed his gratitude for the welcome he received from the Spanish people during his fourth apostolic journey.
POPE LEO XIV
I return to Rome deeply moved by the great affection with which I have been received, and comforted by the testimonies of faith and love for the Church, expressions of Spain’s great Catholic heart.
It was a memorable journey carried out under the motto “Lift Up Your Gaze.” Pope Leo XIV gave thanks for every moment experienced and entrusted all those present to Our Lady of Candelaria, the patroness of the Canary Islands.
