Pope Leo XIV reaches out to migrants in their own languages

Fuerteventura, Tenerife, Lanzarote. Far from the tourist clichés associated with these names, the Canary Islands present a complex situation, sitting at the crossroads of Atlantic migratory routes. Pope Leo XIV visited the Spanish archipelago to honor the Church’s commitment to supporting those who left their homelands hoping for a better future.

“I followed him on the internet, and I wanted to see him. He is so kind, so good!” For Aliu, a 16-year-old from Gambia who arrived in the Canary Islands a month ago, the Pope’s visit was a divine surprise. “It doesn’t matter to him whether we’re white or black, Christian or Muslim. He wants to help us,” explained the teenager, who is looking for work to help his family.

The final leg of Pope Leo XIV’s Spanish voyage took place on this vast archipelago inhabited by over two million people. This allowed him to experience the reality of a local Church that has mobilized extensively to welcome immigrants.

As in the rest of Spain, the strong presence of decades-long Latin American immigration was palpable. Flags from Cuba, Venezuela, and Colombia were highly visible during the papal visit to Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Unexpectedly, Chinese flags also appeared in the stands of the Las Palmas stadium where the Pope celebrated Mass on Thursday evening.

But in recent years, another reality has transformed the Canary Islands. The massive arrival of African migrants caught authorities off guard, especially in 2020. Many Moroccans, Senegalese, and Gambians survived perilous sea crossings. The Moroccan coast is only about 60 miles from the closest point of the Canary Islands, marking the entry point into Spain and the European Union. Across all nationalities, migrants now make up nearly a quarter of the archipelago’s population.

“We came to change our lives, to help the families we left behind. We had to overcome many fears and cross the ocean, hoping to contribute to our countries’ development,” shared Gorgissa. He’s a Senegalese man in his 50s staying at the Las Raíces migrant center in Tenerife, which the Pope visited on Friday morning.

The Pope surprised everyone by quickly changing languages ... French, English, Spanish in just a matter of a few seconds.

The Pontiff’s decision to speak in French surprised and touched these Francophone migrants, who responded in unison with a warm “Bonjour” to his initial greeting. “We hope his visit will give us dignity. We aren’t here to ask for a favor, but simply to ask for decent work,” Gorgissa explained.

Working harmoniously with the government and local authorities, the Church assists over 22,000 migrants and finances projects in their countries of origin. The goal is to encourage young people tempted by migration to stay and invest in their homelands. Caritas Canarias currently runs 14 micro-entrepreneurship projects in Morocco, Mali, Mauritania, and Sudan.

Looking very elegant with a Spanish flag worn as a headscarf, Mary seemed more comfortable speaking Spanish than English. Having arrived from Gambia 26 years ago, she now works as a domestic employee. “The Pope’s visit is a dream for me! We all hope it’ll improve the situation for those of us who came from far away,” she said during the meeting in San Cristóbal de La Laguna.

Anna Maria is a native of Las Palmas. She is also a fervent devotee of Our Lady of the Pine, venerated in the archipelago since the 15th century. As a lawyer, she’s deeply attentive to the distress of people seeking a better future. She has worked extensively to provide legal assistance to migrants arriving by sea, who are often trapped and abandoned by unscrupulous smugglers. “The situation is calmer today, and the Pope’s visit is a great source of consolation for the entire population of the Canary Islands,” she explained.

During the June 11 Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV at the Estadio de Gran Canaria, a deeply moving prayer intention was read in Wolof. This language is spoken in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania. The prayer was dedicated “to the deceased and to the refugees who lost their lives in the waters of the Atlantic.” It asked “that they may be welcomed by the Father’s embrace, and that the families suffering their loss may be consoled.”

Another intention was read in French “for the poor and needy.” It prayed “that they may find comfort in the infinite goodness of the Lord, and that their human dignity may be promoted through fraternal help.”

By warmly welcoming the first papal visit in their history, Canary Islanders presented themselves as ambassadors of concrete, lived fraternity. This historic reception honored the memory of Pope Francis, who had expressed a strong desire to visit the archipelago.

“I think of your hearts, wounded by so many difficulties, but also consoled by the love received thanks to other open, generous, and merciful hearts,” Pope Leo XIV told the migrants. He rejoiced to see the residents of the Canary Islands following the path proposed by Christ. During his Passion, Jesus was also “comforted by compassionate people who came near to soothe his pain.”