Pope: Europe must accept immigrants
The Pope has called for Europe to craft a unified and fair immigration policy, saying that thousands of refugees coming ashore need acceptance and assistance, not self-interested policies that risk lives and fuel social conflict.
Francis made the comments to the European Parliament during a brief visit meant to highlight his vision for Europe a quarter of a century after St John Paul II travelled to Strasbourg to address a continent still divided by the Iron Curtain.
The Pope said he wanted to bring a message of hope to Europeans distrustful of their institutions, burdened by economic crisis and spiritually adrift in a culture that no longer values human dignity.
He called for politicians to promote policies that create jobs and accept immigrants, saying: “We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery.”
