– Eros Santana / ACFI / Europa Press / Pool – Europa
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 12 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Pope Leo XIV arrived at about 09:20 this Friday at Tenerife North Airport-Ciudad de La Laguna, where he was welcomed by a wide representation of state, regional, and ecclesiastical authorities. This marks the final stop of his apostolic journey to Spain.
Upon his arrival, the Pontiff was greeted by the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo; the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz; the Government Delegate in the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana; and the President of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, Astrid Pérez.
Among those participating in the welcoming ceremony were the President of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila; the Mayor of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez; the Lieutenant General Chief of the Canary Islands Command of the Army, Julio Salom; the Director of Tenerife North Airport-Ciudad de La Laguna, Francisco Javier Osman Hermida; and the Bishop of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Eloy Alberto Santiago.
Final Activities in the Canaries
Following his arrival in the islands, Leo XIV will undertake the final part of his agenda in the Canary Islands before concluding his apostolic visit to Spain, which has included various pastoral, institutional, and social meetings in different locations across the country.
From the airport, he will travel to the migrant centre at Las Raíces in La Laguna, where he will meet with users to hear about their migration experiences. The facility currently accommodates around 500 individuals and has, at times during the most challenging phases of the ‘Atlantic route’, housed up to 1,600.
The migration discussions will continue with a meeting with organisations and migrants at the Plaza del Cristo de La Laguna, starting at 10:10, followed by a concluding mass at 12:15.
