Canary Islands Prepare Unprecedented Security Operation for Papal Visit
Authorities in the Canary Islands are implementing an unprecedented security and logistics operation for the upcoming papal visit, including school closures and remote work recommendations to mitigate expected traffic disruptions.
The upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to the Canary Islands has prompted authorities to launch the most extensive security and logistics plan in the islands' recent history. According to the Government Delegation, new mobility restrictions are being proposed that could significantly disrupt daily life in Gran Canaria and Tenerife throughout June.
The operation, which Government Delegate Anselmo Pestana described as the most complex his department has ever managed, centers on two key dates: June 11 in Gran Canaria and June 12 in Tenerife. Due to the scale of the event, officials have formally asked the Department of Education to suspend classes on both islands during the visit.
Beyond schools, the government is encouraging both public and private sectors to shift to remote work. The goal is to reduce traffic on major roads and prevent gridlock while the papal entourage moves across the islands.
These measures aim to balance the high-security requirements of a papal visit with the need to keep essential services running. Given the islands' limited road infrastructure and high traffic density, officials are working to coordinate these disruptions to minimize the impact on residents' daily routines.