Pope Leo XIV reproaches Europe in the face of the migratory crisis: “The Mediterranean and the Atlantic cannot be cemeteries”

Published at: 11/06/2026 01:42 PM

This Thursday, Pope Leo XIV addressed a severe rebuke to European institutions on the eve of the signing of the European Migration Pact, questioning the continent's position in the face of the humanitarian crisis on its maritime borders.

During his recent official visit, the pontiff denounced the ethical contradiction in the region, pointing out that Europe “cannot proclaim human dignity and get used to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic being cemeteries without headstones”.

This intervention takes place in a context of alarming figures, marking a critical year in which more than 10 thousand maritime arrivals to European territory have been recorded. The Atlantic route, in particular, has established itself as one of the most dangerous in the world, reporting at least 600 fatalities according to data from humanitarian organizations.

The statements of Pope Leo XIV underline the urgency of a structural review of European migration policies, urging the leaders of the bloc to prioritize the protection of human life over border control measures that, in the pontiff's opinion, have normalized death at sea.

Mazo News Team