The Diocese of the Canary Islands celebrated, in the Church of San Francisco de Borja, the International Day of Migrants with an emotional event entitled "They take the floor".

The event, hosted by the journalist José Naranjo, a Canarian based in Dakar, was attended by the Archbishop of Tangiers, Monsignor Emilio Rocha; Mame Cheikh Mbaye, president of the Federation of African Associations of the Canary Islands; Ibrahima Kone, Mohamed Laffi and Jean Thea. The diversity of the participants offered the audience an enriching and positive vision of human mobility. In a dynamic format, the guests shared their views on issues as varied as hospitality, integration and the public management of migration.

In front of an attentive audience, the speakers raised interesting points of reflection and agreed on the importance of creating spaces for dialogue and listening that allow for mutual understanding. They also expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the welcome given by the organisations and society of the Canary Islands.

Organised by the Secretariat for Migration in collaboration with the Loyola Centre, the event was attended by the bishops of the Diocese as well as representatives of the Government of the Canary Islands and the Island Council, institutions with which joint work is indispensable.

After some words of hope and an invitation to contemplate reality with a new look, the event concluded with a Christmas toast by the students of the MAIN Foundation. Thus ends a year in which migrations have marked the current affairs of the islands and with our hopes set on 2024.