Tens of thousands of eyes are on Pope Francis during his tour of the French city of Marseille today, as he holds a mass there, especially after his call for "European governments to make more efforts to care for migrants risking their lives in the Mediterranean Sea."
At the conclusion of a meeting with bishops and youth from the Mediterranean region, he stated: "Migration is a reality in this era, and it is a process that involves three continents around the Mediterranean and must be managed with wise foresight that includes a European response."
Pope Francis urged European governments to do more to support migrants crossing the Mediterranean, saying: "Those who risk their lives at sea are not invading, but seeking welcome." He added: "A significant number of legal and regular entries for migrants must be allowed, with an emphasis on accepting those fleeing wars, hunger, and poverty, rather than just maintaining individual comfort."
At the final session of the Mediterranean Meetings in Marseille, Pope Francis encouraged world leaders to make the region a "foundation of peace," stating that migration is not an emergency but a reality of our times.
French President Emmanuel Macron greeted Pope Francis at the harbor where the conference center is located. A private meeting is scheduled to take place later today before returning to Rome.
On the first day of his two-day visit to the city, Pope Francis addressed the rising hostility towards migrants in Europe, stressing the "urgency for governments to rescue asylum seekers fleeing conflicts in their countries."
