Pope Leo XIV Sends Letter of Gratitude to Canary Islands Bishop Following Migration-Focused Visit

Pope Leo XIV has sent a formal letter to Eloy Santiago, Bishop of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, officially concluding the acknowledgments following his apostolic visit to Spain last June. According to the diocese, the Pope wanted to express his gratitude for the support and hospitality he received during his time in Tenerife, which was the final stop on a tour that also included Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Beyond standard diplomatic protocol, the Pope’s message highlights the Vatican’s focus on managing migration at Europe’s southern borders. His visit to the Las Raíces reception center in Tenerife was a deliberate choice. During that event, attended by the Minister of Inclusion, Elma Saiz, and various church leaders, the Pope called for people to move past identity barriers. He delivered his speech in French, the common language for many of the center's residents.

The visit reflects the Holy See’s ongoing approach to the migration crisis. Leo XIV connected the current situation to the history of Brother Peter and Saint Joseph of Anchieta—Canarian missionaries who were themselves migrants—and urged institutions to promote integration through shared responsibility. He encouraged a shift in perspective, moving away from viewing migration as a matter of charity and toward a concept of mutual cultural enrichment, which he described as building a "civilization of love."

The letter, which ends with an apostolic blessing invoking the Virgin of Candelaria, also recognizes the organizational efforts of the Church in the Canary Islands. Local church leaders view the visit—which included events at the Plaza del Cristo and a tribute to Pope Francis—as a significant milestone for the diocese. By sending this final letter, the Vatican has reinforced the idea that the Canary Islands are not an isolated case, but a central part of the Church’s global mission to prioritize hospitality and human dignity.