The Pope States He is "Considering" a Visit to the Canary Islands Due to the Migrant Crisis

Pope Francis has expressed a desire to visit the Canary Islands to gain firsthand insight into the migrant crisis affecting the archipelago. He made this statement on Friday during his return flight to Rome from Singapore, the final leg of his longest pontifical journey, which also included visits to East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. "I am thinking a bit about going to the Canary Islands because there are situations with migrants arriving by sea, and I would like to be close to the leaders and the people," said Jorge Mario Bergoglio, without specifying a date for his potential stay in the islands. This visit would be a stopover on a trip he "would like" to make to Argentina. Initially planned for the last quarter of this year, it now seems postponed as "several things need to be resolved first," according to Francis, who emphasized that it is "not yet decided" whether he will return to his homeland.

When asked about the situation in Venezuela, he first urged its leaders to "dialogue" and "make peace," subsequently using a controversial term that threatens to provoke a diplomatic crisis with the Caribbean country. "Dictatorships are useless and end badly, sooner or later. Read the history of the Church... I will say that the Government and the people should do everything possible to find a path of peace in Venezuela," stated Francis, who also spoke about China, a nation he would like to visit. In his conversation with journalists aboard the flight, he did not hold back in praising the Asian giant. He described it as a "great country" that he "admires" and "respects," applauding its "millennia-old culture" and "capacity for dialogue and understanding that transcends different governments" it has had over time.

"China is a promise and a hope for the Church," he insisted. Bergoglio's statements come as the agreement signed between the Holy See and Beijing in 2018 is about to be renewed, which allowed for the resolution of local bishop appointments. Francis expressed being "happy" and "pleased" with the "good" results of dialogue with China, despite the Vatican not maintaining official diplomatic relations with the country since they were severed in 1951 following Communist leader Mao Zedong's victory.

The Pope also addressed whom Catholics should vote for in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, where they will have to choose between a pro-abortion candidate like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, who promises to deport millions of migrants. "Both are against life, both those who expel migrants and those who kill children," he said, encouraging citizens to decide "in conscience" whether "the lesser evil" is represented by "that lady or that gentleman."