On the last leg of his Apostolic Journey to Spain, Pope Leo XIV began his day on the island of Tenerife at the Las Raíces reception centre with a meeting with migrants during which the Pope was visibly moved by the encounter.
By Paul Samasumo – Tenerife
Tenerife’s Las Raíces centre was established by the state as an emergency shelter for migrants arriving by boat to the islands via the Atlantic route. It is the first point of call for the state’s asylum system.
The centre is run by ACCEM, a leading Spanish non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting refugees, migrants, and vulnerable individuals at risk of social exclusion.
Dealing with trauma
Francesco Navarro, the ACCEM Regional Manager in the Canary Islands, spoke to Vatican News about ACCEM’s work.
“We are specialised in working with refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, but we also carry out a different range of other activities,” he said. “This set-up here (at Las Raices) is for male adults who arrive by sea in the Canary Islands. They mostly come from different African countries.”
Most migrants, said Mr. Navarro, come from Mali, Senegal, Guinea, and other African countries, including Nigeria.
The centre seeks to provide humanitarian aid such as shelter, clothes, and hygiene products, while assessing their medical situation.
“We try to detect any illnesses that they might have, or we try to work with them, if they have some trauma during their journey,” he said. “We have social workers and lawyers, and we offer all kinds of workshops and educational sessions. We also teach Spanish to them.”
Against stigmatisation
Mr. Navarro explained that ACCEM is keen to promote understanding in society and that migration should never be stigmatised or criminalised.
People in the Canary Islands, Mr. Navarro said, are generally hospitable.
“Obviously, when there is an issue to solve, we meet together and we solve the issue,” he said. “So there is a lot of communication also with the city hall in La Laguna and with all the local administrations.”
