STORY: Pope Leo on Friday (September 25) called for a response to the causes of the Ceuta migration crisis, saying he has followed it since the first day.

More than 72,000 people surged into the enclave from Morocco at the end of July, although most later left. Spain estimates thousands of migrants remain in the tiny territory, including minors.

Leo has previously said governments must move beyond simply managing migrant flows and instead confront the root causes that force people to flee, including conflict, poverty and climate change. He has called for safer legal pathways, dignified reception and stronger efforts to allow people to remain in their countries of origin.

Leo drew the ire of US President Donald Trump last year after calling the U.S. president's hard-line anti-immigration policies "inhuman" and urged the world to become "more human" and to help those fleeing war or poverty.

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Pope Leo calls for response to causes of Ceuta migration crisis

VIDEO SHOWS: POPE LEO SPEAKING TO JOURNALIST ABOARD PLANE / COMMENTING ON CEUTA MIGRATION CRISIS

EDITORS NOTE: AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: EN ROUTE TO PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 25, 2026) (VATICAN MEDIA - News use only)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POPE LEO, SAYING (IN RESPONSE TO QUESTION ABOUT CEUTA MIGRATION CRISIS):