Pope thanks Canary Islands for allowing hantavirus-hit cruise ship to disembark near Tenerife

Pope Leo thanked the Canary Islands for their "hospitality" in allowing passengers aboard the hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius to disembark near Tenerife on Sunday (May 10).

"I want to thank the hospitality that characterises the people of the Canary Islands for allowing the arrival of the cruise ship Hondius with hantavirus patients," he said.

Pope Leo will soon travel to Spain from June 6-12, in his first trip to a European Union nation outside Italy. While there, he is expected to hold twelve speeches, four masses, and around ten meetings with political, ecclesial, and civic leaders.The main stops will be in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands.

The pontiff, in his weekly address from the window of the Apostolic Palace at Vatican City, also called for violence in Sahel to end, particularly in Chad and Mali.

"I encourage all efforts for peace and development in that beloved land," he added.

Production: Clara Schoenthaler/Reuters