Sánchez to meet with the Pope again during his meeting with migrants in Gran Canaria

Eduardo González The Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, will accompany Pope Leo XIV during his meeting with migrants and volunteers at the Argüineguín reception center, the arrival point for thousands of people in recent years. According to sources at Moncloa Palace, Sánchez will receive Leo XIV on June 11 at the Gando Air Base, along with the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, and the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles. He will accompany the Pope during his meeting with volunteers and migrants at the port of Argüineguín in Gran Canaria, where the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts, and responsible for the Government's relations with the Holy See, Félix Bolaños; the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and Government Spokesperson, Elma Saiz; and Ángel Víctor Torres will also be present. The migration component of this final stage of the trip has been particularly valued by the Government. In this regard, sources at Moncloa Palace have highlighted the alignment between the Pope's position and that of the Church in general (in fact, the Spanish Episcopal Conference has supported the regularization process approved by the Executive) and the Spanish Government's stance in favor of an open and welcoming Europe. Therefore, the Prime Minister will meet with the Pope at least five times during his apostolic journey to Spain, which will take place between June 6 and 12, 2026. On Saturday, Sánchez and the King and Queen will receive the Pontiff at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. Two days later, the Pope will meet with the Prime Minister at the Apostolic Nunciature and will again meet with Sánchez and other members of the Executive at an event in the Congress of Deputies. Separately, Leo XIV and Pedro Sánchez will meet again in Barcelona on June 10, during the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ, the tallest tower of the Sagrada Familia Basilica, coinciding with the centenary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí. Pedro Sánchez himself was received in audience by the Pope on May 27 at the Vatican, two days after the publication of the Pope's first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," on the social doctrine of the Church "in the age of artificial intelligence," in which he warned that "technology must not be concentrated in the hands of a few," rejected increased military spending as the "only answer" to an "uncertain future," defended the rights of migrants and the analysis of the "root causes" of migration, and called for "an examination of conscience" within the Church on behalf of the "victims of abuse." The biggest logistical challenge in 200 years The Ministry of the Interior has announced that the Pope's apostolic visit will require the National Police to undertake the largest security logistical operation in its more than 200-year history. More than 15,000 officers from different units will be deployed in Madrid (9,700), Barcelona (600), Las Palmas (1,200), and Tenerife (1,000), along with 2,600 trainee officers from the National Police Academy in Ávila. Throughout Pope Leo XIV's stay in Spain, his personal protection detail will consist of officers from the Central Protection Unit and members of the Special Operations Group (GEO). Likewise, the contingent of material resources will amount to almost 600 vehicles, including 250 vans for the Police Intervention Unit (UIP), 17 trucks for the Mounted Unit, 24 vans for the Canine Unit, 38 vehicles for the Special Operations Group (GEO), and 91 vehicles designated for the protective capsules. The Police Air Unit will have one airplane, seven helicopters, and 16 drones, and the Subsurface and Environmental Protection Unit will have eight specialized vans. Furthermore, the deployment of police units to the Canary Islands will be “a logistical challenge,” according to the Ministry. This Tuesday, two ships departed from Huelva bound for Las Palmas and Tenerife with approximately 215 officers, more than 170 vehicles, and 16 dogs. They will be joined by another 1,300 officers who will depart on seven flights in the days leading up to the Pope's arrival on the islands. Also, the inter-island transfer will be necessary, between June 11 and 12, of a ship that will make the Agaete-Tenerife journey with more than 320 agents, 160 vehicles and four dogs.

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