October 14, 2013 - Pope Francis received on Monday received in the Vatican, William
Lacy Swing, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM),
a United Nations agency with 132 member states. IOM promotes humane and orderly migration,
focusing on issues ranging from international law to migrants’ rights, and works closely
with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other partners.
The plight of migrants is very close the heart of Pope Francis, who made an surprise
visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa on July 8, to pay homage to the migrants
and refugees, mainly from Africa, who have drowned while trying to make it to Europe.
The Pope has also mourned the victims of two recent tragedies in which many migrants
died after their boats capsized in the Mediterranean. (Source: Vatican)