Pope Francis renews call for solidarity in Europe amid migrant crisis

Pope Francis called for Europe to welcome migrants amid the current the current crisis at the Poland-Belarus border, The Associated Press reported.

Francis told European Catholic missionary groups at the Italian bishops conference on Thursday that foreign migrants will renew the content. “The dream of a united, diverse Europe is a beautiful mosaic, which should not be scarred or corrupted with prejudices or hatred veiled in respectability,” he said. 

Francis spoke about the history of Italian migration, sharing the story of his Italian ancestors’ emigration to Argentina, according to the AP.

The Pope added that Europe has historically been the shared home of many peoples, and urged the continent to “revitalize its vocation to solidarity and subsidiarity today.”

“Even the Church in Europe cannot fail to consider the millions of Italian and foreign emigrants who are renewing the face of cities and countries,” Francis said at the meeting. 

The AP noted that Francis didn’t say anything about the current crisis unfolding on Poland’s eastern border, where hundreds of thousands of refugees, mostly from Middle East countries, have assembled as the political standoff between the two countries has intensified. 

Francis has repeatedly advocated for Europe to integrate refugees in the past. In October, he urged nations to stop returning migrants to Libya and called for the international community to find “lasting solutions” for managing the flow of migrants and refugees.

“I never forget you,” he said of Libyan migrants. “I hear your cries and I pray for you.”