Pope's Arrival, Baby Blessings
Pope Leo XIV Receives Grand Ovation, Blesses Babies Before Mass at Estadio Insular
Pope Leo XIV arrived at the Estadio de Gran Canaria in the Siete Palmas district of Las Palmas to a thunderous standing ovation on June 11, 2026. The crowd of 40,000 people inside the stadium erupted as the Pope entered aboard the Popemobile, making history as the first pontiff ever to visit the Canary Islands, according to RTVC.
Before the Mass began, Leo XIV paused to bless approximately 15 babies held up by congregants during his lap around the pitch. RTVE described the moment as the most intimate of the day. Thousands more watched from the neighboring Gran Canaria Arena and surrounding fan zones.
A Historic First Papal Visit to the Islands
This is the first time a sitting pope has ever set foot in the Canary Islands, according to Vatican Media. The visit fulfills a wish expressed by the late Pope Francis before his death in 2025. Francis had long wanted to visit the archipelago — Europe's southern border — to stand with those lost at sea on the Atlantic migration route.
Mayor Carolina Darias presented Leo XIV with the Golden Key to the City of Las Palmas — a gesture not seen in 30 years, according to the Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas. The city declared the visit a historic milestone. Hotels in Las Palmas reported 100% occupancy for the 48-hour window surrounding the Pope's arrival, according to Gran Canaria Tourism.
Pope Stands with Migrants at Arguineguín Before Mass
Earlier in the day, Leo XIV visited the Muelle de Arguineguín — a port that has become a symbol of the Atlantic migration crisis. He met with migrants and teams from Salvamento Marítimo, Spain's maritime rescue service. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo joined him there, according to RTVE.
Clavijo said the Pope's choice to visit the islands carries "symbolic weight" in drawing global attention to the humanitarian crisis on the Atlantic route. Leo XIV urged the Church in the islands to "continue offering love" and "caring for the most fragile," according to El País.
A Week of Massive Crowds Across Spain
The Gran Canaria stop is the sixth day of Leo XIV's week-long apostolic journey to Spain, which runs June 6 through June 12. The tour opened with a Mass in Madrid that drew 1.2 million people at Plaza de Cibeles on June 7, according to Camino Católico. Some 17,000 volunteers have managed logistics across the entire Spanish tour, RTVE reported.
Security was tight in Gran Canaria. Traffic restrictions banned vehicles over 7.5 tons on three major highways — the GC-1, GC-3, and GC-31 — from 8:00 AM on June 11 through 9:00 AM on June 12, according to OkDiario.
Leo XIV Heads to Tenerife Tomorrow to Close the Tour
The Pope is set to depart for Tenerife on the morning of June 12 at 9:30 AM. There, he will visit the Las Raíces migrant center — his final stop before leaving Spain. The visit is expected to keep international attention on the EU's handling of migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands, according to RTVE.
Religious analysts told Vatican News that Leo XIV is following the "Francis Line" on social justice issues. But they note he brings what they call a more "North American pragmatic approach" to how the Church organizes large-scale events and public outreach.
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