Pope Francis Urges Action to Address Migration Crisis in Europe

Pope Francis called on European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, to open their ports to migrants and address the long-term reality of migration with compassion. He criticized countries that have closed their doors to migrants and urged them to respond with charity. The pope's visit to Marseille comes as Italy's far-right government threatens to organize a naval blockade of Tunisia and increase repatriations. Macron, who has taken a harder line on migration, greeted Francis and discussed migration and security issues. Francis emphasized that talk of a migration "emergency" fuels fear and alarmist propaganda, and called for a European response to the objective difficulties of migration.