Pope thanks Canary Islands locals for welcoming the MV Hondius cruise ship

Leon XIV will visit the islands soon

Pope Leon XIV expressed his gratitude on Sunday for “the warm welcome that characterises the people of the Canary Islands” in allowing the MV Hondius cruise ship to dock, despite the vessel being affected by a hantavirus outbreak.

“I want to thank the people of the Canary Islands for the warm welcome that characterises them and for permitting the arrival of the Hondius,” the pontiff said in Spanish after reciting the Regina Coeli, the Sunday prayer that replaces the Angelus during the Easter season.

Despite the initial outbreak, the World Health Organization has confirmed that all occupants of the ship appear to be healthy and are not showing any symptoms.