The stop in the Spanish archipelago off the western coast of Africa is a centrepiece of the Pope's week-long tour of Spain, in which he has also warned that escalating conflicts have pushed the world into a profound crisis.
Juan Carlos Lorenzo, co-ordinator of the Spanish Commission for Refugees in the Canary Islands, told Reuters that Leo's visit to the Canaries, where the Pope will meet about 1000 migrants on Friday, is a "significant milestone".
"It will serve as a strong affirmation of the defence of human rights, respect, and the dignity that all people deserve, regardless of their origin," Lorenzo said.
Leo was due to land on Gran Canaria, one of the main islands, on Thursday morning.
On arrival, he will meet several groups that help recently arrived migrants before laying flowers at a memorial to migrants lost at sea.
More than 3000 people died in 2025 trying to reach the Canary Islands, according to the NGO Caminando Fronteras.
Leo, who has spoken forcefully against the direction of global leadership in recent months, told the Spanish parliament on Monday that a lack of help for the world's migrants was challenging "the ethical foundation of the international order".
In contrast with most of Europe, Spain has adopted a more open stance on migrants, introducing a program to grant residency to more than half a million undocumented people.
The initiative, however, has drawn criticism from far-right leaders in Spain and across the continent, and the country is struggling with the slow pace of granting legal status to thousands in limbo.
