While 130 migrants have been missing since Thursday following a shipwreck in the Mediterranean, Pope Francis said he was "very saddened by this tragedy" on Sunday, at the end of the Regina Coeli prayer, Place Saint-Pierre au Vatican. "It's a moment of shame," added the Pope, who regularly defends the rights of migrants.
Pope Francis on Sunday called "shame" the fate of 130 migrants missing since Thursday following a shipwreck in the Mediterranean, saying "very saddened by this tragedy".
"I confess to you that I am very saddened by the tragedy which once again occurred in recent days in the Mediterranean. Brothers and sisters, let us all ask ourselves about this umpteenth tragedy. It is a moment of shame", a- he said to the faithful at the end of the Regina Coeli prayer, St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.
"Pray also for those who can help but prefer to look the other way"
The NGO SOS Méditerranée had indicated Thursday that it had spotted a dozen bodies off the coast of Libya near an overturned inflatable boat which had been reported in distress with around 130 people on board. "One hundred and thirty migrants died at sea, these are people, these are human lives who for two whole days have implored in vain for help. Aid which has not arrived," continued Pope Francis.
"Let us pray for these brothers and sisters and for so many others who continue to die on these dramatic journeys. Let us also pray for those who can help but prefer to look in the other direction. Let us pray in silence for them", concluded the Pope , great defender of the rights of migrants, refugees and displaced persons.
Humanitarian NGOs accuse the countries of the European Union not only of not wanting to rescue migrants in danger in the Mediterranean, but also of hampering their own rescue activities.
According to figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) arrested on April 21, at least 453 migrants have died since January 1, 2021 in the Mediterranean, mainly on this central route from Tunisia and Libya.