Pope meets IOM chief

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)