Pope Leo XIV’s visit to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands, in photos

Spain's lawmakers have given Pope Leo XIV a lengthy standing ovation after his historic address to parliament. This marks a new level of acceptance of the Catholic Church in largely secular Spain. Leo on Monday called for respect for migrants' rights and international law. He emphasized a "moral renewal" to ensure dignity for all, including the vulnerable. He also urged dialogue amid new tensions between Israel and Iran. And he highlighted the need for ethical oversight of AI in weapons systems. He called for efforts to prevent migrant smuggling and promote integration. Spain’s Socialist-led government has defended immigration on economic and humanitarian grounds.

Pope Leo XIV has traveled to the Canary Islands, an epicenter of the European migration debate. He challenged countries to uphold migrants’ rights while shaming those leaders, including Christians, who turn them away with indifference. Leo issued an impassioned plea to recognize the dignity of migrants from the port of Arguineguin. In 2020, the port earned the name “dock of shame” because of the squalid conditions migrants were forced to live in during a spike in arrivals. The pope heard testimonies from rescue workers and addressed women who have been trafficked and forced into prostitution.