Pope Francis on Sunday called for an end to migrant smuggling, a week after a ship sank in southern Italy, killing at least 70 people.
“For traffickers to be arrested so that they no longer have the power to control the lives of so many innocent people,” the Argentine Jesuit called at the end of today’s Angelus prayer.
“May these voyages of hope never again become voyages of death, and may the clear waters of the Mediterranean no longer be bloodied with such dramatic incidents,” added the 86-year-old Pope.
Visibly touched, Jorge Bergoglio was silent for several seconds in front of the crowd in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
The death toll in the tragedy off the coast of Crotone in Calabria on Sunday was at least 70 people, including 15 minors, rescuers are still looking for other victims.
Three suspected smugglers have been arrested. According to Italian media reports, they are suspected of charging between 5,000 and 8,000 euros for each migrant they brought to Turkey three days earlier.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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