Pope Leo used a visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa on Saturday to urge European leaders to do more to help desperate migrants risking dangerous Mediterranean crossings.
Pope Leo’s Message
Leo, who drew the ire of Donald Trump last year after calling the U.S. president’s hardline anti-immigration policies “inhuman”, called on the world to become “more human” and to help those fleeing war or poverty.
“Those who have lost their lives in this sea are victims both of decisions that were made and of decisions that were not made,” the pope said as part of a sombre day visit, made as his native United States celebrated its 250th anniversary.
Migration Crisis
A total of 14,464 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea so far this year, according to U.N. Refugee Agency data, with more than half landing in Lampedusa. The figure exceeds the island’s resident population of about 6,000.
More than 1,400 people have died or gone missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean this year, including 28 children, according to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
