Pope to Human Traffickers: Repent or Face God's Wrath
Newser • • world
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV condemned people smugglers exploiting migrants on the African migration route to Europe, urging them to stop and repent to avoid divine justice.
- Speaking in the Canary Islands, he emphasized the dignity and rights of migrants, calling for their integration into society and condemning the exploitation and dangerous conditions they face.
- Leo highlighted the humanitarian crisis of migrants abandoned after perilous journeys, describing lost lives at sea as a failure for humanity and urging communities to respond with compassion.
- His visit to the Spanish archipelago aimed to honor migrants who died at sea and reinforce the Church's call to "welcome the stranger" amid rising anti-migrant sentiment in Europe and the US.
- The pope's return flight to Rome was delayed due to a technical issue, leading Spain's King Felipe VI to offer his private jet, marking a rare disruption in papal travel.