Pope León XIV Concludes Spain Visit with Tenerife Mass, Urges Shared Migration Response

Farewell mass in Tenerife

More than 35,000 people gathered in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the final mass of Pope León XIV's seven-day apostolic visit to Spain. The service was held in the Dársena de los Llanos, a site that has seen boats carrying migrants from Senegal, and was marked by the historic presence of the Christ of La Laguna — a venerated image that left its sanctuary for the first time in over 500 years to preside over the altar.

I return to Rome 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 the great Catholic heart of Spain.

The Pontiff's car bore the traditional SCV 1 license plate, reserved for the head of state of Vatican City since 1930, a detail that drew attention among the faithful.

A call for shared responsibility on migration

Throughout his homily, the Pope returned to the theme of migration, describing the journey of those who cross the sea in search of dignity as a "call to encounter." He insisted that no human being is an island, and underlined the pastoral challenges facing the Canary Islands as a gateway for thousands of migrants.

This is the secret of the heart: the intimate call to exodus and encounter. No obstacle, distance, danger or threat can prevent each one from their journey.

After visiting the Las Raíces migrant centre earlier in the day, the Pope's words were received with emotion by participants who have experienced migration firsthand. Rosa Dávila, president of the island council, highlighted the need for shared action:

No territory can face a challenge of this dimension alone; more humanity, more cooperation and more commitment are needed.

Tourism, commerce and the dignity of work

León XIV also addressed the island's economic model, warning against a mindset that "reduces everything to commerce and profit." He cited an observation by Pope Francis about the haste that leads people to "run over everything around them" and linked it to Tenerife's tourism vocation.

What is the human heart seeking? How to respond to its thirst in a non-deceptive way? How important it is, especially for those who let themselves be guided by the Gospel, not to reduce everything to trade and profit.

The Canary Islands' tourism industry generated €23 billion in value added in 2025 — 40% of regional GDP — and supported 413,000 jobs. Yet the archipelago still registers some of the lowest wages in Spain and high rates of poverty and exclusion, fueling protests against mass tourism in recent years.

A pontiff's farewell and the journey home

As the mass ended, the Pope extended his blessing and toured the crowd one final time. Local bishop Eloy Santiago told him that "the Pope is also Canarian and will always have a home in these islands." With that, León XIV departed for Rome, carrying — in his own words — the memory of a land that welcomed him with enthusiasm.