The farewell Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV at the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife generated an unprecedented influx of visitors, with attendance to the city increasing by more than 261% compared to a normal day, according to data released by Telefónica Tech’s Smart Step crowd analysis platform.
The figures provide a clear indication of the scale of the historic event, which marked the first visit by a Pope to the Canary Islands and drew tens of thousands of people to Tenerife.
A Historic Gathering in Tenerife
The Mass, held on the esplanade of the Port of Santa Cruz, was the final act of the Pontiff’s apostolic visit to Spain and attracted both local residents and visitors from across the archipelago and mainland Spain.
Among domestic visitors, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Madrid were the main places of origin, while Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy accounted for the largest international representation.
Strong Impact Across the Canary Islands
The Catholic Church’s official review of the visit, presented four days after the Pope’s departure for Rome, highlighted the significant impact the trip had across the islands.
In Gran Canaria, where Leo XIV celebrated Mass at the Estadio de Gran Canaria, visitor numbers increased by around 50% compared with a typical Thursday. Many attendees travelled from other parts of Spain, particularly Madrid, Tenerife and Seville.
“The Visit Exceeded Expectations”
Speaking during the official assessment in Madrid, Luis Argüello, President of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, admitted that the public response had surpassed initial forecasts.
“The visit overwhelmed us,” he said, acknowledging the extraordinary turnout throughout the six-day tour.
National deputy coordinator Fernando Giménez Barriocanal also described the schedule as particularly demanding.
“I think we gave the Pope an excessive workload. It was a very intense agenda, but may the Lord forgive us,” he joked, referring to a journey that saw the Pontiff travel more than 2,500 kilometres across Spain.
Millions Attended Events During the Visit
The visit included stops in Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, attracting hundreds of thousands of people and placing the Canary Islands at the centre of international attention for two days.
According to preliminary estimates, the total cost of the papal visit is expected to be around €26 million, although final figures have yet to be confirmed.
The organisers also praised the contribution of volunteers, public institutions, sponsors, media organisations and the Spanish Royal Household, all of whom played a role in delivering what has become one of the most significant events in the recent history of the Canary Islands.