Canary Islands Senior Center Residents Prepare for Pope’s Visit

The Pope’s upcoming visit to the Canary Islands has sparked excitement far beyond official circles, touching the hearts of residents at local senior centers. According to the newspaper El Día, the women living at the Hogar Virgen Poderosa have turned their daily routine into a festive countdown as they prepare to welcome the Pontiff.

With the help of priest José Matos, the residents—who are cared for by the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul—have secured a special spot along the Pope’s official route. The center’s director, María José Ferrera, helped coordinate the preparations, which included making handmade signs and buying commemorative scarves, funded by the residents themselves.

The group, aged between 87 and 92, will gather on Viana Street after the Pope concludes his meeting with social groups and migrants at the Plaza del Cristo. For many of these women, this visit is a deeply personal milestone, fulfilling a long-held hope they never thought they would see realized.

This effort highlights the center’s commitment to active aging, where residents are encouraged to stay engaged with the community through regular outings, such as weekly visits to the Maritime Park. The residents have compared the excitement of preparing for the Pope’s arrival to the joy of Three Kings' Day, underscoring how vital emotional connection and community involvement are to well-being in later life.