Pope arrives in Lampedusa

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis arrived on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa Monday morning for a half day visit to express solidarity with the local islanders and hundreds of migrants. Boatload upon boatload of migrants have made the perilous journey across the sea from North Africa in search of a better life; some 20,000 have perished.

Pope Francis was greeted at Lampedusa airport by the Archbishop of Agrigento, Francesco Montenegro and the Mayor of Lampedusa, Giuseppina Nicolini.

Accompanied by dozens of fishing boats, The Holy Father was taken out to sea where he cast a wreath of flowers in memory of all those who have died in the attempt to reach Europe’s southern coast.

Pope Francis will celebrate mass at the Arena sports field on Lampedusa and later visit the parish of San Gerlando before departing the island shortly before 1:00 pm for his return to the Vatican.

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