Pope Francis calls for addressing the situation of migrants in Europe

  Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church in the World has called for the situation of immigrants in Europe to be addressed. The leader of the Catholic Church in the World has said this and pointed out that the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea is an open wound and that this wound should be treated with bandages and medicine by European political leaders. Expressing his disappointment with the frequent deaths of migrants in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Pope Francis said it is sad that, since the beginning of this year, almost 2000 people, including women and children, have drowned on their way to Europe.

It should be noted that, last year (2022), 24,684 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, 525 migrants died and another 848 were lost on the Libyan coast. Libya has become the main center for illegal immigrants heading to Europe due to insecurity, chaos and the lack of a strong central government in the country since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. Most immigrants come from sub-Saharan African countries and most of them are they drown from using very fragile vessels like plastic canoes to cross the strong currents of the great Mediterranean sea. Reports show that 400 migrants died in the first three months of this year in the Mediterranean Sea.