Pope urges EU to boost aid in Italy’s migrant crisis

Nearly 200,000 people rescued at sea since 2014

ROME— Pope Francis joined Italy on Saturday in pressing the European Union to do more to help the country cope with rapidly mounting numbers of desperate people rescued in the Mediterranean during journeys on smugglers’ boats to flee war, persecution or poverty.

While hundreds of migrants took their first steps on land in Sicilian ports, dozens more were rescued at sea. Sicilian towns were running out of places to shelter the arrivals, including more than10,000 in the week ending Saturday.

The coast guard said 74 migrants were saved from a sailboat shortly before it sank Saturday about 160 kilometres east of the coast of Calabria in southern Italy. Passengers included 10 children and three pregnant women.

With his wide popularity and deep concern for social issues, the Pope’s moral authority gives Italy a boost in its lobbying for Brussels and northern EU countries to do more. Since the start of 2014, nearly 200,000 people have been rescued at sea by Italy.

“I express my gratitude for the commitment that Italy is making to welcome the many migrants who, risking their life, ask to be taken in,” said Francis. “It’s evident that the proportions of the phenomenon require much broader involvement.”

Since most of the migrants want to reach family or community members in northern Europe, Italian governments have pushed for those countries to take in the migrants while their requests for asylum or refugee status are examined.

The EU’s commissioner for migration, Dmitris Avramopoulos, says a new policy will be presented in May. Meanwhile, he has also called for member states to help.