Virgin of Candelaria to Join Pope’s Final Mass in Tenerife

Pope Leo XIV is set to visit Spain from June 6 to 12, and the trip will include a significant moment for the Canary Islands. The Virgin of Candelaria will temporarily leave her basilica to join the Christ of La Laguna at the closing Mass of the papal visit.

The main event is scheduled for noon on Friday, June 12, at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Dailos José Melo, the prior of the Dominicans who care for the Virgin, confirmed that the religious community has approved the bishopric’s request. They have stipulated that the statue must be moved under strict security and handled with the utmost care.

The transfer will be a private logistical operation rather than a public procession or pilgrimage. The Dominican order chose this approach to manage the high level of public devotion surrounding the statue while ensuring she can be part of the Pope’s final event in Spain.

While organizers are still deciding which mantle the Virgin will wear, they are currently focused on designing the main altar. By bringing the Virgin of Candelaria and the Christ of La Laguna together, the diocese aims to make the Tenerife port the focal point of the papal visit. The transfer will be a high-security operation designed to protect one of the islands' most cherished religious and historical treasures.