Pope Leo brings his Apostolic Journey to Spain to a close in the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, stressing that “no human being is an island”.
By Augustine Asta – Tenerife
With the stunning backdrop of the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean glistening behind him, Pope Leo brought to a close his trip to the Canary Islands, and with it his Apostolic Journey to Spain.
In his homily, Pope Leo invited the faithful to contemplate the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the center of human history – a place where the joys, hopes, sorrows, and anxieties of all resonate.
“No human being is an island,” he declared, emphasizing that the Christian life is a continuous exodus toward others and toward God. The Pope warned against the pitfalls of a society consumed by haste, materialism, and the pursuit of profit, which risk trapping individuals in a “sterile dynamism.”
In a region heavily dependent on tourism, he urged both locals and visitors to rediscover simplicity, gratitude, and the value of human relationships over mere commerce. “There is life when you give life,” the Pope stressed.
Pope Leo arrives for Mass (@Vatican Media)
Spiritual wealth
Reflecting on the day’s Gospel, the Pope highlighted the privileged place of the marginalized in God’s plan. Divine revelation, he noted, often manifests itself to those the world deems insignificant or powerless.
The Pope cited his apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te, which underscores that the poor are not merely recipients of charity but bearers of a wisdom which can evangelise the Church itself.
Migration and hospitality in Tenerife
The Canary Islands are a key transit point for migrants crossing the Atlantic. In his homily, Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the harsh realities faced by migrants, including exploitation by human traffickers, and called on Christians to offer not just material aid but true fraternity.
He challenged local communities to allow themselves to be transformed by their encounters with newcomers, describing the experiences of the poor and migrants as a source of wisdom for societies often trapped in comfort and individualism.
Pope Leo earlier in the day at a meeting with migrants (@Vatican Media)
Seeing with the Heart of Christ
Drawing his homily to a close, the Pope expressed gratitude to the people of the Canary Islands for their spirit of welcome and fraternity.
He encouraged Christian communities to pay special attention to the young, the vulnerable, the rich and poor alike, locals and visitors. “God is love,” he reminded them, quoting the First Letter of John.
Leo urged the faithful to help others discover “the ocean of love” in the Heart of Christ, ensuring no one feels excluded from encountering God and their brothers and sisters.
Farewell and gratitude
At the end of the Mass, Pope Leo XIV offered thanks “to God and to all who welcomed me and helped out in countless ways”, preparing his visits to Madrid, Barcelona, Montserrat, and the Canary Islands.
“I return to Rome deeply moved by the great affection that has surrounded me,” Pope Leo said, “and comforted by the testimonies of faith and love for the Church, expressions of Spain’s great Catholic heart.”
