Pope Francis has shown himself close to the Canarian people and announced his intention to visit the islands to learn first-hand about the migration crisis. The announcement, made by the Pontiff on the plane returning from Asia, was well received in the archipelago. “The visit of Pope Francis would give a face to the humanitarian drama in the Canaries and the solidarity of the Canarian people.”
This was expressed by the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, on his social networks, in which he thanked people for their willingness to travel to the archipelago. “This gesture would allow us attract the attention of the international community on the migration challenge and the challenge that Africa represents.
For the vice-president of the government of the Canary Islands, Manuel Domínguez, it is “good news”. As he recalled, the president and he himself went to Rome to invite him, so that he could “identify the situation and the humanitarian crisis that we are suffering in our country.” He believes that this visit can “make the world aware of the precarious situation that we are suffering in the Canary Islands and make Europe understand what is the relief situation that we need,” in addition to reminding the central government of “the urgency and the emergency.”
He announced that if Pope Francis went to the Canary Islands “We will welcome you with open arms”because it can promote “an action that Italy has carried out, in a different but effective way, with Lampedusa”.
The spokesman for the Canary Islands government, Alfonso Cabello, expressed a similar view, taking advantage of the announcement to urge the socialists and popular parties to reach an agreement. “If the Pope comes and it doesn’t work, PP and PSOE can sit down to negotiate and we finish adopting an agreement, I don’t know what else we have left,” he asked, recalling the importance of solving the problem of the diversion of minors because “resources are exceeded.”
Vatican ‘cannot look away’
The Bishop of the Canary Islands, José Mazuelos, also valued this gesture in an interview with Cadena Cope, because it is a recognition of “a people who fight and face this problem with determination.” generosity “great”. He admitted to being supported by Francis I because his words “showed me his sensitivity and it made me happy to see the Pope concerned and supporting us.”
The head of the diocese had no doubts about the sensitivity of the Vatican which, he assures, “I can’t look away“We must promote the development of the countries of origin and the Vatican is clear on this.” On Radio Canarias, he explained that “the Holy Father brings a little light, he has the support of the Church, sensitized to its problems.”
