Pope Francis likely to draw attention to migrants' plight at Lesbos

Desperate refugees in Lesbos

There is speculation that Pope Francis will visit the Greek island of Lesbos next week. It is an island which has seen hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees arrive in recent months. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew 1st of Constantinople is likely to accompany him.

Responding to media reports that the Pope will travel there next Friday, 15 April Fr Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See Press Office, said there have been discussions about a possible papal visit, but he could not confirm any dates or details.

Pope Francis has expressed a desire to visit one of the islands "in order to draw attention to the humanitarian problems of the migrants," as well as the need for "an immediate cessation of hostilities in the wider Mediterranean region". Many of these immigrants are fleeing from conflicts or persecution in the Middle East and Africa.

Source: Zenit