The Mayor Welcomes the Historic Visit of the Pope to the Municipality, Where He Has Visited the Centre of Roots, Held a Meeting with Organisations in the Plaza del Cristo, and Strolled Through the City Streets
The Mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, has expressed that the municipality “identifies with the message of peace and welcoming of migrants” delivered by Pope Leon XIV this Friday in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, during his historic visit to the Canary Islands, marking the final stage of his apostolic journey in Spain.
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez extended his gratitude, “on behalf of all the citizens of La Laguna, for the visit of the Pope to our municipality. With his presence among us, he not only reaffirms his commitment and solidarity with those who migrate but also acknowledges the work of hospitality that the island community has been undertaking for years.”
Papal Message on Human Dignity
The municipal leader believes that the Pope’s message advocating for human dignity “validates those of us who have defended dignified and humanitarian conditions for individuals risking their lives to reach our shores.” He recalls that centres located in Las Canteras and Las Raíces once housed over 7,500 migrants. “I can proudly say that the society of La Laguna rose to the occasion, and the professionals and specialists in integration provided invaluable support. This ongoing work is what the Pope acknowledges with his presence among us,” he stated.
A City of Heritage and Peace
The Mayor reminded that one of the values for which San Cristóbal de La Laguna is recognised as a World Heritage site is its identity as the first unfortified colonial city in Spain. “A city of peace, open to dialogue and encounter, and this is another significant message that Pope Leon XIV leaves us during his visit to Spain,” he asserts.
Acknowledgement of the Community’s Response
Finally, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez commended “the exemplary behaviour of over 20,000 people who gathered on Friday in the centre of La Laguna to see the Pope, as well as the efforts of the entire team from the Diocese of Tenerife, led by Bishop Don Eloy Santiago, and the hundreds of volunteers who have been working for months from the office on La Carrera Street to ensure that this historic visit went smoothly.”
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez was part of the delegation that welcomed Leon XIV at Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna airport shortly after 9:00 am. He accompanied the Pope on his visit to the Centre for First Arrivals at Las Raíces, where the Pope was able to gain first-hand insight into the realities of migrants. Later, he joined the municipal corporation awaiting at the Plaza del Cristo to attend the event that the Supreme Pontiff held with NGOs, social entities, and the public.
Papal Tour through the City
Pope Leon XIV then travelled through the streets of Viana and San Agustín in a small vehicle, greeting vulnerable members of the island’s community and the thousands of people gathered for hours before reaching the Palacio de Salazar, the episcopal residence of Tenerife, where he delivered a message to the attendees from the balcony.
A Gift for the Pope
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez presented the Supreme Pontiff with two gifts from the municipal corporation as a memento of the visit: a facsimile of the original manuscript from 1510, in which Queen Juana of Castile, daughter of the Catholic Monarchs, granted the city its coat of arms in her own handwriting, at that time the capital of Tenerife; and the Key to the Heritage City, a unique silver piece that honours the Baroque tradition of silverwork in the La Laguna style, reinterpreting the compass rose. In a letter accompanying these items, the municipal leader states, “Although San Cristóbal de La Laguna was the first unfortified Spanish colonial city and thus recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, this key symbolizes our character as a universal, hospitable city open to the world,” conveying the “deep gratitude of the entire La Laguna community” for his visit and his “hopeful message in defence of human dignity.”
After the mass held at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife port, the Mayor of La Laguna once again met with Leon XIV as part of the farewell delegation from our country, which included civil, military, and religious authorities, presided over by His Majesty the King, at the Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna airport, from where the papal flight departed for Rome.
