The history of the Catholic Church in the Canary Islands is a faithful reflection of the archipelago's evolution, shaped by remoteness, conquest, and the hegemony of the capital islands. After 622 years since the creation of the Rubicense Bishopric, Pope Leo XIV will become the first supreme pontiff to visit the islands.

The first Canarian bishopric dates back to the mid-14th century, with the creation of the Bishopric of La Fortuna in Telde by Clement VI, promoted by missionaries from Mallorca and Catalonia. However, this bishopric disappeared in the early 15th century without any of its four bishops residing on the islands.

The ecclesiastical history of the islands was marked by the absence of bishops. The first bishop of the Rubicense Bishopric, Fray Alonso de Sanlúcar de Barrameda, refused to travel to the Canary Islands, as did his successor, Fray Mendo de Viedma. This situation led to the creation of the Bishopric of Fuerteventura in 1424 by Pope Martin V, whose appointed bishop, Fray Martín de las Casas, also never set foot in his see.

The coexistence of both bishoprics concluded in 1431 with the death of Fray Mendo de Viedma, who did travel to Lanzarote. Shortly after, in 1435, Pope Eugene IV ordered the transfer of the bishopric to Gran Canaria, although the move did not materialize until half a century later, once the island's conquest was complete.

The expansion of the Church in the Canary Islands developed in parallel with the conquest. While some aimed for control of the archipelago, enslaving and exterminating the indigenous population, the Church, in its early stages, was critical of these atrocities. Bishops such as Calvetos, Diego López de Illescas, Juan de Frías, and Miguel López de la Serna positioned themselves against slavery and the excesses committed against the natives, confronting figures like Hernán Peraza and Pedro de Vera.

However, there were also bishops who sponsored these excesses, such as Francisco de Moya, who was dismissed for his participation in the assault on La Palma. During the 16th century, convents founded by Augustinians and Dominicans proliferated, promoting the Church's educational, social, and charitable work.

The last major change for the Canarian Church came in 1819 with the creation of the Bishopric of Tenerife by Pope Pius VII, although its consolidation was delayed until the late 19th century. After several appointments and re-establishments, the Nivariense diocese was restored in 1877.