Pope Leo heads to Canary Islands on mission to help migrants

Pope Leo set off on Thursday for the final leg of his visit to Spain, flying from Barcelona to the Canary Islands, where he will meet migrants who have braved dangerous Atlantic waters as he urges the world to treat immigrants more humanely.



The stop in the Spanish archipelago off the western coast of Africa is a centrepiece of the pope's week-long tour of Spain, in which he has also warned that escalating conflicts have pushed the world into a profound crisis.



Juan Carlos Lorenzo, coordinator of the Spanish Commission for Refugees in the Canary Islands, told Reuters that Leo's visit to the Canaries, where the pope will meet with around 1,000 migrants on Friday, is a "significant milestone."



"It will serve as a strong affirmation of the defense of human rights, respect, and the dignity that all people deserve, regardless of their origin," said Lorenzo.

Leo was due to land on Gran Canaria, one of the main islands, around 10:50 a.m. (0950 GMT).



On arrival, he will meet with several groups that help recently arrived migrants before laying flowers at a memorial to migrants lost at sea.