The ecclesial community and organisations such as Proclade Canarias take up the legacy of the Holy Father: a prophetic call to welcome, youth protagonism and human dignity in the face of the reality of migration.
The recent apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV to Spain, with his stops of deep pastoral and human significance in Tenerife and Gran Canaria, has not been a fleeting event. The fruits of this journey are taking root in the hearts of the local communities. Today, we gather these sentiments through four testimonies that reflect how the presence of the Pontiff has transformed the perception of the border into a space of shared humanity.
Arguineguín: The Epicentre of a Non-Negotiable Dignity
For those who live and work daily in the care of migrants, the Pope’s stop in Arguineguín represented an absolute endorsement of a labour that is so often rendered invisible. José Antonio, a Claretian missionary from the Las Rehoyas community in Gran Canaria, highlights the shift in perspective brought about by the presence of Leo XIV at the Grancanarian port:
“I thank God for having had the opportunity to witness the closeness, involvement and courage of Pope Leo in the face of the reality of migration experienced in Arguineguín. His presence and his words have been a sign of hope for so many people suffering the consequences of forced displacement, poverty and exclusion.
At a time when migration is often approached through fear, security or rejection, the Pope has succeeded in placing the human person at the centre, reminding us that every migrant has a name, a story and a dignity that must be respected and protected. His commitment has transcended speeches to become a firm call to solidarity, welcome and fraternity.
The visit to Arguineguín showed once again that borders cannot become places where humanity is lost. Pope Leo has consolidated his position as a powerful and prophetic voice in defence of human dignity… The welcoming, protection and promotion of migrants are not an option, but a demand of our shared humanity.
As a believer and as someone committed to the reality of migration, this experience reaffirms my conviction that another world is possible when we put people at the centre. The Pope’s presence in Arguineguín has been a clear message to the Church, to institutions and to the whole of society: the welcoming, protection and promotion of migrants are not an option, but a demand of our shared humanity.”
Tenerife and the Impulse to “Lift Our Eyes”
The impact also resonated strongly in Tenerife, where the call to action shook the structures of cooperation and development organisations. Candy, Vice-President of Proclade Canarias in Tenerife, shares how this encounter has brought about a revival both for personal faith and for institutional outreach:
“The visit of Pope Leo XIV to Spain and to Tenerife has been a truly special event that has touched our hearts. Beyond what it may have meant to each individual, the Holy Father has left his mark and invited us to pause and ‘lift our eyes’.
It was an encounter that encouraged our communities, invited reflection from both believers and non-believers, and placed something fundamental at the centre: the dignity of every person, regardless of their origin or condition. This is a message that connects deeply with the work we carry out at Proclade Canarias. For me, it has been a wake-up call and a renewed impulse to continue living the faith through commitment, fraternity and service to others. It is necessary to open our hearts and look through the eyes of God, to discover Jesus Christ in every person and every face.”
“A Serenity That Moves Mountains” and Stirs Consciences
Pepa, Secretary of Proclade Canarias, connected both with the major speeches of the visit, such as the one delivered to the authorities at the Royal Palace, and with the spontaneous and intimate gestures at the Canarian port, inevitably evoking the Claretian charism:
“If I had to define the visit of Pope Leo XIV to our country, and especially to our islands, I would define it as the serenity that moves mountains. His serene yet suffering gaze at the testimonies of the people, his closeness and welcome to all who approached, and his warmth with merciful gestures towards the migrants in the Port of Arguineguín, ‘have stolen my heart’, as Father Claret would say; and it has caused an earthquake not only within the Spanish Church, but in society at large.
From his speech at the Royal Palace, an immense desire arose within me to listen, to change, to welcome… ‘Truth is always greater than we are, and that is why it surprises us…’ These were his words that resonated within me on the first day and have made this journey of the Pope a gift of the Holy Spirit in my life.”
The Roadmap of “To Be, To Be Present, To Love”
The true challenge of a papal visit begins when the aeroplane takes off on its return to Rome. For Lali, head of the technical office at Proclade Canarias, the legacy then becomes an intergenerational work plan. Lali summarises the experience lived during the shared days as a roadmap condensed into three key words that must guide the way forward:
“The visit of Pope Leo has been a breath of fresh air and an impulse for these Canarian lands. It has made the problem of immigration visible in a special way, with great respect and tenderness; names, faces and testimonies have been given to it… and it is a problem that continues to exist. Welcome, hope, humanity—these are the words that resonated the most during the days of the visit.
We shared a beautiful day with hundreds of people. Many young people, with concerns, with a desire to act, with a need for God, whom we must care for, accompany and guide. Many elderly people, whom we must listen to, care for and support, because they are the ones who have been building the path and the Church before us. WELCOME, HOPE, HUMANITY. In these three words, everything fits. God calls us to have an open heart to welcome everyone in need (…) May our hearts ache when the world suffers, and may we not only be able to lift our eyes, but lift our voices for those who cannot. TO BE, TO BE PRESENT, TO LOVE.”
The Canary Islands have been the mirror in which the universal Church has looked squarely at some of the wounds of the contemporary world. The challenge now lies in transforming this experience into structures of hospitality and into an institutional narrative that continues to lift its voice for those who have none.
