Pope Leo XIV urged smugglers and traffickers to "Stop it. Repent" during an emotional meeting with migrants and integration workers in Tenerife, condemning the exploitation of vulnerable people. He warned that profits from human suffering bring no peace or future and listed abuses such as human trafficking, organizing death routes and withholding documents. The Pope framed integration as "a reciprocal journey," calling on both newcomers and host societies to adapt while preserving identity. The Tenerife stop concludes his Spanish trip before a Mass in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and his return to Rome.
‘Stop It. Repent.’ Pope Leo XIV Urges Human Traffickers During Tenerife Visit
FILE PHOTO - Pope Leo XIV is pictured at Port of Arguineguln in Gran Canaria. (is associated with: «'Stop and repent,' pope urges human traffickers as he visits Tenerife») Vatican Media/IPA via ZUMA Press/dpa
Pope Leo XIV delivered an emotional appeal to smugglers and others who profit from migrants' suffering during a visit to Tenerife, urging them to "Stop it. Repent." The Pontiff spoke at the Plaza del Cristo de La Laguna to migrants, integration workers and local communities, calling out those who turn human desperation into profit.
"The money wrested from the vulnerability of the poor will bring neither peace, nor honour, nor a future,"
He condemned a range of abuses that feed the trafficking business, saying he wanted to send a clear message to those who "exploit the desperation of others; who organize death routes, engage in human trafficking, withhold documents, exploit workers, threaten women, deceive families, and turn the suffering of others into a business."
Meeting Migrants and Workers
Earlier in the gathering, migrants recounted their journeys and experiences directly to the Pope. Leo listened to their stories and emphasized the human cost behind the headlines, stressing compassion and accountability for those who profit from vulnerability.
Migration Context
The Canary Islands have long been a key route for migration from Africa to Europe, particularly shaping local life between 2020 and 2024. The islands saw a peak in irregular arrivals in 2024, when nearly 50,000 people reached the Canary Islands. Authorities reported a sharp decline in boat arrivals last year compared with that peak.
On Integration
During the session the Pope described integration as "a reciprocal journey," arguing that newcomers should not be forced to erase their heritage or memories, while host societies should learn to "expand their home" without losing their identity. He warned against the formation of parallel societies and urged mutual adaptation and respect.
This Tenerife stop concludes Pope Leo's multi-day trip to Spain under the motto "Lift up your eyes," a phrase from the Gospel of John that the Vatican says invites people to look beyond daily concerns, rediscover God and open themselves to others. Earlier in the visit he met migrants and integration workers on Gran Canaria and visited Madrid and Barcelona.
The pontiff is scheduled to celebrate a large Mass in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and then fly back to Rome.
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