Pope Leo XIV at 'Dock of Shame': Dignity Has No Passport

Pope Leo XIV made a powerful appeal on Thursday for humane treatment of migrants and refugees during a historic visit to Spain's Canary Islands, Europe's most active entry point for people crossing from Africa's Atlantic coast.

At the 'Dock of Shame'

Standing at the Port of Arguineguin in Gran Canaria — dubbed the "Dock of Shame" after some 2,600 migrants were left stranded in squalid conditions there during the COVID-19 pandemic — Leo XIV addressed thousands of onlookers and approximately 1,000 refugees and migrants.

"Human dignity has no passport and does not lose its value when crossing a border," the pope declared. "We cannot grow accustomed to counting the dead. May history not accuse us of turning the pain of those who suffer into a common sight along our shores."

A Call to Conscience

The first American pope described his visit as an "appeal to the conscience" of European and world leaders, urging them to strengthen protections for those fleeing war and poverty. He also condemned human traffickers who exploit desperate migrants crossing the Atlantic in unseaworthy vessels.

In a symbolic gesture echoing his predecessor Francis, Leo XIV threw a bouquet of flowers into the sea in memory of those who perished during the crossing. At least 3,090 people died in 2025 attempting to reach the Canary Islands, according to the NGO Caminando Fronteras.

Spain's Approach to Migration

The pope's visit comes during a wider tour of Spain. Spain has taken a relatively open stance on migration compared to other European nations, launching a programme to grant residency to over 500,000 undocumented people, though the initiative has drawn criticism from the far right. More than 46,000 migrants reached the Canary Islands in 2024 alone — a record year — with most arriving in fragile boats from Mauritania, Senegal, Morocco, and the Sahara region.