Shipwreck of migrants: Pope's call to arrest smugglers prompts Italian government to react
Pope Francis during the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, March 5, 2023. © Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS
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At the end of the Sunday Angelus prayer, in St. Peter's Square in Rome, Pope Francis spoke at length about the tragic sinking of a caïque overloaded with migrants which occurred on February 26 near Crotone in Calabria.
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"
The waters of the Mediterranean must no longer be bloody
."
"
May the traffickers of human beings be arrested, may they not continue to dispose of the lives of so many innocent people
!"
Pope Francis called on Sunday to stop the deadly traffic of migrant smugglers, a week after
the shipwreck off the coast of Calabria
which left at least 70 dead, including fifteen minors.
Visibly moved, Jorge Bergoglio then collected himself in silence for a few seconds in front of the crowd massed in St. Peter's Square in Rome.
This is not the first time that the pope has risen up against the smugglers, but he had never clearly asked that they be arrested, reports our correspondent in Rome,
Anne Le Nir
.
This made the head of government,
Giorgia Meloni,
react immediately on her Facebook page.
“
The words of the Holy Father represent an important call for all institutions.
Our government is doing its part by deploying all possible forces to combat human trafficking and end the deaths at sea
”.
Matteo Salvini "
shares the Pope's words
"
Matteo Salvini, known for
his anti-migrant positions
also responded to the pope's remarks.
The Minister of Transport and boss of the League, echoed him on his Facebook page.
“
I share the Pope's words, I have worked for a long time to implement them and save lives.
“But Matteo Salvini and other ministers are at the heart of the controversy over
the too late arrival of relief
during the sinking of the boat.
Three people suspected of being smugglers have been arrested.
According to Italian media, they are suspected of having charged between 5,000 and 8,000 euros for each migrant they had boarded in Turkey three days earlier.
►Also read: Shipwreck of migrants in Calabria: the Italian opposition appeals to the European Union
(
And with
AFP)
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