Pope Francis XIV: Migrant deaths in Mediterranean victims of 'omitted decisions'

Pope Francis XIV visited the Italian island of Lampedusa on Saturday, directly addressing the ongoing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean. During a Mass celebrated on the island, the pontiff drew parallels between the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan and the current humanitarian emergency.

He condemned the indifference, economic interests, and lack of effective policies that perpetuate the suffering of those attempting to reach Europe. "The disinterest in the common good and corruption in places of origin, a global economic system that generates poverty and exclusion, the fear that fosters prejudice and contempt," he stated, also contributing to the problem.

The Pope added that the belief that these issues do not concern us, criminal calculations by those profiting from others' tragedies, and the slow, difficult transition from mere emergency management to organic, shared policies all echo the biblical narrative of people "passing by" hastily. Pope Francis XIV, wearing a chasuble with blue accents symbolizing the sea, expressed his desire to follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis, who chose Lampedusa for his first apostolic journey in 2013.

He thanked the island's inhabitants for their welcoming efforts. "I have come to thank you, brothers and sisters of Lampedusa, for the closeness that many among you have chosen to exercise," he said. The Bishop of Rome asserted that Lampedusa and the nearby island of Linosa "are on a dangerous road, like the one descending from Jerusalem to Jericho," where not only one but thousands of human beings have fallen into the hands of bandits who strip them of everything.

"The sea has taken the others, those who did not manage to arrive where they hoped. However, we feel their presence, which challenges us as much as the presence of those who have landed, in need of attention and help," he added. He also defended that "religious affiliation must never become a reason for discrimination" and advocated for building "the civilization of love."

The pontiff urged Europe to assume its "equivalent responsibility," both historical and cultural, to address migration with a long-term strategy. "Due to its geographical position and institutional structure, Europe has the capacity to address the crisis organically, integrating initial aid into a long-term strategic plan capable of welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating migrants, while simultaneously working for development so that no one is forced to emigrate," he maintained. He believes this effort corresponds "to public institutions, but also to all of society."