The Pope has once again expressed his desire to visit the Canary Islands, recognising the important work being carried out by the dioceses in the archipelago. This intention was conveyed to the Auxiliary Bishop of the Province of Las Palmas, Cristóbal Déniz, during a personal encounter in Rome over the weekend.
Speaking to EFE, Bishop Déniz recounted a brief meeting with Pope Francis following his participation in the Jubilee of Communication event held on Saturday in the Paul VI Hall. During the encounter, the pontiff told him, "I would like to go to the Canary Islands."
Déniz took the opportunity to thank Pope Francis for his affection for the Canary Islands and his recognition of the efforts of its dioceses. The Pope, in turn, praised the work being carried out by the two dioceses on the islands.
The Auxiliary Bishop also recalled a moment last September when the Pope, during a press briefing on his return from a trip to Asia and Oceania, publicly expressed his intention to visit the Canary Islands. The Pope cited the region’s significant challenges with migration as a key motivator, explaining, “I am considering this, going to the Canary Islands, because of the situation with migrants arriving by sea. I would like to be close to the leaders and the people of the Canary Islands.”
Déniz added that during their meeting, Pope Francis spontaneously reiterated his intention, reflecting his ongoing concern for the archipelago. The Pope has previously shown solidarity with the Canary Islands in his public statements on migration and through a letter offering encouragement to the bishops of the region.
The president of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, has also engaged with the Vatican to highlight the humanitarian crisis in the region. In September 2024, Clavijo sent a letter to the Pope thanking him for his focus on the migration issue, following a personal visit to the Vatican earlier in the year to discuss the pressing challenges of the Canary migration route.
Bishop Déniz believes a papal visit would be warmly welcomed by the people of the Canary Islands and would emphasize the importance of the region in both national and international policymaking. “It would place us on the map of priorities to address,” he said.
