Pope Leo XIV called on Europeans to respect the dignity of migrants

During his visit to Spain, Pope Leo XIV called on the peoples of Europe to respect the human dignity of migrants and to view aid to refugees as one of the key responsibilities of Christians. The statement came amid ongoing public debates in Europe about migration policy, security, and the Church’s role in supporting migrants.

According to Life Site News, on June 11, 2026, the pontiff addressed humanitarian workers at the port of Arginegin. In his speech, he emphasized that Christians should not view the reception of refugees as a secondary issue.

Addressing the migrants, Leo XIV said: “Before I say anything else to you, I want to pay homage to your dignity. You are not numbers or files! You are people with families and homes that you have left behind, with dreams that no one has the right to despise.” The pontiff also called on European countries to “examine their consciences,” stating that the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean should not be viewed as “tombstones without graves.”

It should be noted that earlier, the terrorist group “Islamic State” (ISIS) issued a series of threats against Pope Leo XIV, threatening to kill the pontiff.