Pope Francis visited the Canary Islands, a key European entry point for migrants, where he blessed a cross crafted from the wood of a migrant boat, known as a “piroga.” The pontiff knelt in a gesture of respect towards migrants and refugees, acknowledging their suffering and perilous journeys. During his visit, he sharply criticized human trafficking networks and organized crime operating at sea, referring to them as “monsters.” Francis emphasized the moral duty to welcome, protect, and integrate migrants, highlighting the human cost of irregular migration. He urged greater international cooperation to address the root causes of migration and to combat exploitation. The visit underscores the Pope’s ongoing advocacy for the rights and dignity of migrants globally. This trip follows a recent increase in migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands from West Africa.