During his visit, the center's residents expressed their gratitude to the Pontiff for his "sensitivity and listening." "Many times the journey is difficult. There is fear, sadness, and also loneliness. But your words give us strength and hope to continue moving forward," stated Theodor, one of the individuals being hosted.
The Las Raíces center currently hosts 685 adults who arrived in the Canary Islands by "cayuco" or "patera" (small boats). Most of the residents come from West African countries and typically stay in these facilities for one to two months before being relocated to other reception centers on the mainland. It was noted that at certain times, such as in 2024, the number of hosted individuals reached between 2,000 and 3,000, coinciding with a surge in boat arrivals.
