The General Directorate of Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands announced on Tuesday, April 21, the activation of a pre-alert status starting Monday, April 27, at 12:00 PM. This measure is being taken in anticipation of Pope Leo XIV's upcoming visit to the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife during June.
This decision is based on the application of the Territorial Emergency Plan for Civil Protection of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands (PLATECA), aiming to guarantee the safety of attendees and coordinate preventive actions for the expected high concentration of people. It also seeks to ensure fluid communication with all available resources to strengthen security arrangements.
“"The pre-alert is declared for a mass event associated with the upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV in June, with the aim of guaranteeing the safety of attendees, coordinating preventive measures for high-concentration events, and ensuring communication with all resources to reinforce the arrangements."
The pre-alert status will escalate to a full alert during the specific days of the pontiff's visit, scheduled for June 11 and 12. Concurrently, the government delegate in the islands has recommended promoting teleworking and suspending in-person classes on both islands to mitigate potential mobility issues.
Additionally, the municipality of Granadilla has announced that it will provide free transportation for its residents, enabling them to attend the religious events held in the capital, specifically the mass planned at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
