The day also served to honor the victims of the Atlantic route, present Onalia Bueno with the commemorative medal of the papal visit and give her the Mogán Book of Honors signed by the Holy Father. The Port of Arguineguín experienced a day filled with symbolism this Wednesday with the inauguration of the Pier of Hope, a new name that perpetuates the memory of Pope Leo XIV’s historic visit to the Canary Islands and pays tribute to those who died on the Atlantic migration route.

The event, organized by the Diocese of the Canary Islands, Canary Islands Ports Authority, and the Mogán City Council, brought together numerous residents, institutional representatives, members of the port community, and religious authorities in a gathering marked by remembrance, solidarity, and recognition.

The central moment of the ceremony was the unveiling of a commemorative plaque marking the first visit of a Pope to the Canary Islands and, specifically, to the Port of Arguineguín. From now on, this space will be known as the Pier of Hope, a name that seeks to convey a lasting message of welcome, respect, and commitment to life.

The managing director of Puertos Canarios (Canary Islands Ports Authority), José Gilberto Moreno, pointed out that this new name “is not just a name, but a declaration of principles,” commemorating both the visit of the Holy Father and those who lost their lives trying to reach the Canary Islands.

He also emphasized that the ports of the archipelago are “service infrastructures, but also places of encounter, memory, and humanity,” underscoring that this new symbol represents the values ​​of solidarity and hope that the Canary Islands wish to project.

During the ceremony, the Mayor of Mogán, Onalia Bueno, received the official medal commemorating the visit of Pope Leo XIV in recognition of the work carried out by the Town Council to make the historic meeting possible on June 11th.

She was also presented with the Mogán Book of Honors, whose first signature belongs to the Holy Father, thus inaugurating this new institutional record of the municipality.

The Mayor expressed her gratitude for the collaboration among all the administrations involved and highlighted the effort made by municipal staff to prepare the port and attend to the thousands of people who came to welcome the Pontiff during his only visit to the Canary Islands.

During the ceremony, the stage used during the papal visit was also officially transferred to the Town Council. It will remain installed in the port area as part of the legacy of that event.

One of the most moving moments of the day came with the reading, by the Bishop of the Diocese of the Canary Islands, José Mazuelos, of a letter sent by Pope Leo XIV in which he encourages the people of the Canary Islands to continue being a welcoming and compassionate land.

The bishop also spoke next to the cross made from the wood of migrant boats, blessed by the Pope himself during his visit. This piece commemorates the role played by the Port of Arguineguín during the 2020 migration crisis, when it became one of the main arrival points for migrants to the Canary Islands.

A rosary blessed by the Pope was also presented to parish priest Fernando García for the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at the port, along with a replica of the clay plate received by the Holy Father and a rosary for the managing director of Canary Islands Ports.