'A crime to block out migrants from Africa', says Pope Francis

Putting up barriers to stop the arrival of migrants from Africa “is a crime”. However, it must also be noted that the European Union “does not support” first host countries on the Mediterranean front, and Italy is one of them. This is what Pope Francis said in an online interview published on January 13 by the magazine of the Spanish Combonian missionaries “Mundo Negro” (Black world).

'Italy has always opened its gates, it is Europe that has not'

When asked “what are we missing out on when we build gates and obstacles to stop or block” the arrival of migrants from the African continent, Pope Francis answered “when barbed wire is put up in order for migrants not to escape, this is a crime”, referring to “those countries that have a low demographic index, countries that need people, countries with empty cities and who do not know how to manage the inclusion of migrants. Migrants must be welcomed, sheltered, supported, promoted and included. If they fail to be integrated this is negative."

The Pope also said that “there is a great deal of European injustice, don’t you think? Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain and even Malta are the countries on the front line when it comes to sheltering migrants. In Italy, where the current migration policies, are restrictive -- let's say this in a positive way -- the country has always opened its gates to save those that Europe does not shelter and welcomes”.

“These countries must deal with everything on their own, they must decide whether to send the migrants back, knowing this means they will be killed or die, or if they choose to shelter them. It is a serious problem. The European Union does not support them”, highlighted the Pope.

The Pontiff addressed this topic a few days after the visit of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Vatican, with whom the migration issue was also discussed during the meeting with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.