Church rules out Papal visit to El Hierro due to infrastructure limitations

The diocese cites airport capacity and logistical constraints as the main reasons for excluding the island from the itinerary.

Aerial view of the volcanic coastline of El Hierro island with the Atlantic Ocean in the background.
IA

Aerial view of the volcanic coastline of El Hierro island with the Atlantic Ocean in the background.

The Diocese of the Canary Islands has confirmed that the Pope's visit to Spain will not include a stop on the island of El Hierro due to current logistical limitations.

According to the Diocese of the Canary Islands, the airport infrastructure in El Hierro lacks the capacity to accommodate the large aircraft required for the papal entourage. This technical constraint has been the deciding factor in excluding the island from the official itinerary, despite its significant role in managing the recent migration crisis.
The ecclesiastical representative noted that while the humanitarian efforts of the local population are recognized, security restrictions and crowd management make it unfeasible to organize large-scale events on the island. It was also clarified that the visit's planning prioritized locations with greater logistical capacity, such as the area surrounding the cathedral.
The exclusion of the island has caused dissatisfaction among local institutions, which have expressed their disappointment at not being included in the official reception. Meanwhile, the Diocese emphasized that the visit's primary focus remains on supporting migrants, with institutional presence limited according to specific instructions for the event at the Port of Arguineguín.