Tenerife Officials Protest Exclusion of Saint Pedro from Papal Visit Events

Plans for Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to the Canary Islands have sparked significant tension. According to Diario de Avisos, officials in southern Tenerife are drafting a formal complaint to the event’s organizing committee. Their grievance centers on the exclusion of Brother Pedro from the visit’s main events—a decision they view as a snub, particularly as it coincides with the 400th anniversary of the saint’s birth.

The controversy focuses on a large-scale Mass scheduled for June 12 at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which is expected to draw over 50,000 people. While the altar will feature the Virgin of Candelaria and the Christ of La Laguna, the image of the Canary Islands' first saint has been left out. Members of the IV Centenary Commemorative Commission, including historian and magistrate Nelson Díaz Frías, argue that this ignores the legacy of Pedro de San José de Betancur, whose work in Guatemala was vital to the growth of the Bethlehemite Order.

This dispute highlights a long-standing divide between southern Tenerife and the island’s political and religious leadership. Critics, such as former councilman José Alberto Delgado, suggest that the saint’s birthplace—the small town of Vilaflor de Chasna—has led to his marginalization. For many, this is not an isolated issue but evidence of a disconnect between the religious hierarchy and the local community, exacerbated by what they see as a lack of action from local politicians.

Supported by the Guatemalan embassy and consulate, the protesters hope to change the plans before the Pope arrives. The debate has moved beyond simple protocol, raising questions about how historical and religious heritage is managed during official visits and whether the selection of devotional images truly reflects the island's identity or merely upholds a traditional hierarchy that overlooks the significance of Central America’s first canonized saint.