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France 24
France 24
Politics
FRANCE 24

Pope casts flowers in sea in tribute to drowned migrants during Canary Islands visit

The pope cast a floral wreath in tribute to the migrants who have died trying to reach the Canary Islands.
The pope cast a floral wreath in tribute to the migrants who have died trying to reach the Canary Islands on June 11, 2026. © Stefano Rellandini, AFP

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday visited Spain's Canary Islands, the once-notorious centre of the European migration debate, where he threw a bouquet of flowers in the sea in tribute to the migrants who perished trying to reach the Atlantic archipelago. The pontiff made a plea for "human dignity" and condemned leaders, including Christians, who turn them away with "indifference".

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday condemned "indifference" towards migrants during a visit to Spain's Canary Islands that symbolised the perils of deadly irregular routes to Europe.

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