The new pontiff's agenda could include a visit to the Canary Islands to analyze the archipelago's migration situation firsthand, a trip that Francis was unable to make due to his delicate state of health.
The Vatican already has a new tenant. And in the Canary Islands, more than one person has already thought about preparing Gando airport for his arrival. The newly elected Leo XIV—the papal name of Robert Francis Prevost—arrives with a profile that fits like a glove with many of the realities experienced in the archipelago. Not only has he worked with vulnerable communities for decades, but, unlike many other cardinals, he knows what it's like to be on the social frontier. And, most importantly, he speaks about migration with knowledge of the facts, not from the comfort of an office.
Furthermore, during his time as Cardinal Prevost, he has positioned himself against the immigration policy of mass deportations that the government of Donald Trump has implemented since his arrival at the White House, and even in 2015, before Trump's first term, he shared articles in which his "anti-immigrant rhetoric" was categorized as dangerous.
“All these migratory movements are a major global problem. But there has to be a solution for both issues: to address the migration issue and to treat all immigrants with respect.” These were the words of the Holy Father, then a cardinal , on August 7th during a homily at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Illinois, USA.
Prevost, of American origin and a naturalized Peruvian citizen, has been a missionary in Latin America and has worked closely with those who have to leave everything behind in search of a better life. It is no coincidence that one of his first pronouncements as Pope was to thank his predecessor, Francis, for his social legacy. Nor is it a coincidence that he chose the name Leo XIV, in homage to Pope Leo XIII, the author of Rerum Novarum , the encyclical that first addressed dignified work, social justice, and respect for the poor. Everything suggests that this pastoral approach is not only being maintained but strengthened.
Given this profile, it's no surprise that the Diocese of the Canary Islands has already announced a formal invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the archipelago . This gesture, if it materializes, would fulfill Pope Francis's long-standing desire to visit the islands, especially given their crucial role in migration routes. The Canary Islands, and particularly southern Gran Canaria, remain a key location in this context; we mustn't forget the heartbreaking images from 2020, where thousands of migrants were crammed onto the Arguineguín dock.
Because if there's one thing Leo XIV isn't lacking, it's humanity. His homilies in Peru, his visits to prisons, his work with indigenous communities, and his time in neighborhoods where even running water isn't available have hardened him in a Church of earth and mud that, in all likelihood, will continue to be very present during his papacy.
The question seems to be not whether he will come, but when. And if he does, it will be a historic moment for the Canary Islands; because it's not every day that a Pope decides to look this way, and because it could represent a gesture of continuity with the papacy of Francis, fulfilling his wish to set foot on Canary Island soil to engage with migrants firsthand.
