Pope Francis: Migrants are 'protagonists of a horrendous modern Odyssey'

Head of Catholic Church criticises Europe's lack of co-ordination over migration and asylum seekers

Pope Francis has criticised Europe’s lack of co-ordination on migration and hit out at a continent “torn by nationalist egoism".

The head of the Catholic Church compared the plight of refugees and migrants making the dangerous journey to and through Europe to a “horrendous modern Odyssey".

Homer’s famed epic poem told the story of Greek hero Odysseus and his perilous 10-year journey home from the Trojan War.

Pope Francis, who is a long-time supporter of refugee rights, was speaking in Greece and will return on Sunday to Lesbos, the Greek island where thousands of migrants have lived in often horrendous conditions in recent years and a flashpoint of the 2015 refugee crisis.

The Pope, speaking shortly after arriving in Athens, said the European community “continues to temporise” and “appears at times blocked and unco-ordinated” instead of being an “engine of solidarity” on migration.

Greece has been one of the main entry points into the EU for migrants and refugees seeking asylum from the Middle East and elsewhere.

“In the past, ideological conflicts prevented the building of bridges between Eastern and Western Europe; today the issue of migration has led to breaches between South and North as well.

“I would like to encourage once again a global, communitarian vision with regard to the issue of migration, and to urge that attention be paid to those in greatest need, so that, in proportion to each country’s means, they will be welcomed, protected, promoted and integrated, in full respect for their human rights and dignity,” Pope Francis said.

He urged for “peaceful coexistence with all those who increasingly are forced to flee in search of a new home and new hope.

“They are the protagonists of a horrendous modern Odyssey.”

Speaking to political and cultural leaders in Greece he that multilateralism can address the major issues of the day, from protecting the environment to the Covid-19 pandemic and poverty.

“Politics needs this in order to put common needs ahead of private interests,” he said.

“Yet we cannot avoid noting with concern how today, and not only in Europe, we are witnessing a retreat from democracy.”

Pope Francis arrived in Greece from Cyprus, where he condemned the “slavery” and “torture” in migrant camps.

His visit to Athens is the first papal trip to the Greek capital since John Paul II in 2001. That had been the first visit by a Pope to Athens since the 1054 Schism between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Greece’s Catholic community is small, comprising only 1.2 per cent of the majority-Orthodox population.

Asylum-seeking migrant families disembark from an inflatable raft after crossing the Rio Grande river into the US from Mexico in Roma, Texas, US, April 22. Reuters

Inside a temporary migrant shelter, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico April 20. Reuters

An asylum-seeking migrant from Central America in a bunk bed at a temporary migrant shelter, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico April 20. Reuters

An asylum-seeking migrant sits on the ground as Central American migrants protest to demand access and asylum in the US from US President Joe Biden, at the Mexico-US San Ysidro border crossing in Tijuana, Mexico, April 23. Reuters

A US Customs and Border Patrol truck patrols the US border with Mexico in Douglas, Arizona, on March 18, 2016. Migrants trekking across the Arizona borderlands died at higher rates in the two decades since stepped up enforcement began funneling them into remote, hostile desert and mountain regions, a new analysis concluded on, April 19. AP

Migrant families wait to be escorted to the location where they turn themselves in to the US Border Patrol after crossing the Rio Grande into the US from Mexico, in Roma, Texas, US, April 19. Reuters

Migrant families, Roma, Texas, US, April 19. Reuters

Asylum-seeking migrant girls from Central America, who were expelled from the U.S. and sent back to Mexico with their families under Title 42, play near bunk beds inside the "Kiki Romero" temporary migrant shelter, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico April 20. Reuters

Migrant families pray after crossing the Rio Grande into the US from Mexico, in Roma, Texas, April 20. Reuters

Migrant families pray after crossing the Rio Grande into the US from Mexico, in Roma, Texas, April 20. Reuters

A child plays in the Kiki Romero Sports Complex after he was deported from the US, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 21. Mexico said it is planning to set up 17 shelters for underage migrants along the country's southern border, as well as some along the northern border with the US, amid a wave of child migrants coming from Central America. AP

Children play at a migrant shelter after they were deported from the US, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 21. AP

A mother and child sleep in a cot at the Kiki Romero Sports Complex, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 21. AP

A girl talks to a family at a migrant shelter after she was deported from the US, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, April 21, AP

Pope Francis prays with migrants at the Roman Catholic church of the Holy Cross near the United Nations buffer zone in the Cypriot city of Nicosia. AFP

Worshippers take pictures of Pope Francis. AFP

Pope Francis holds an ecumenical prayer with migrants. EPA

Pope Francis greets a woman holding a child after an ecumenical prayer with migrants. AFP

Pope Francis greets faithful at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus, where he is on the second day of his trip to the island.

Thousands of faithful flocked to the football stadium in Nicosia to attend mass led by Pope Francis. EPA / ALESSANDRO DI MEO

Overseas workers were among the thousands of Catholics who attended a mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus, on Friday morning. EPA / KATIA CHRISTODOULOU

Worshippers wave flags at a football stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus, ahead of a mass celebrated by Pope Francis. The pontiff will head to Greece after he wraps up his visit to the island. EPA / KATIA CHRISTODOULOU

Pope Francis holds up the Eucharist during mass at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus, on Friday morning, drawing thousands of Catholics. EPA / KATIA CHRISTODOULOU

Worshippers seated in front of a Lebanese flag at a public mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Nicosia, Cyprus. (Photo by Amir MAKAR / AFP)

Young girls waving flags at Pope Francis' open air mass in Nicosia, Cyprus. EPA / KATIA CHRISTODOULOU

Pope Francis leads a Holy Mass at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, Cyprus, as worshippers, many of whom are overseas workers, look on. EPA / KATIA CHRISTODOULOU

Pope Francis greets journalists onboard the papal plane before his five-day pastoral visit to Cyprus and Greece. The visit has been eagerly awaited by the estimated 25,000 Catholics in Cyprus. These include thousands of Maronites whose ancestors arrived from Syria and Lebanon, but most are overseas workers from the Philippines and South Asia, along with African migrants. AP

Pope Francis arrives at the airport in Larnaca, Cyprus. AP

Pope Francis will use his trip to push two of his priorities: religious dialogue and the plight of migrants. AFP

Pope Francis is the second Catholic pontiff to set foot on Cyprus, which has a Greek Orthodox majority. Benedict XVI visited in 2010. AFP

The visit by Pope Francis has been eagerly awaited by the estimated 25,000 Catholics in a country of about a million people. These include thousands of Maronites whose ancestors arrived from Syria and Lebanon, but most are overseas workers from the Philippines and South Asia, along with African migrants. AFP

Pope Francis's trip to Cyprus and Greece is drawing new attention to the plight of migrants on Europe's borders. AP

Pope Francis is greeted at Larnaca International Airport. Reuters

Pope Francis greets people upon his arrival in Larnaca. AFP

Children holding Lebanese flags wait for Pope Francis at Larnaca International Airport. Reuters

Up to 2,000 police are stationed in Athens to monitor possible disruptions by Orthodox hardliners.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou said co-operation with the Vatican was important and praised the role of religion in times of trouble.

“In difficult times with great trials for humanity such as the refugee and migration crisis, poverty, climate change, and the pandemic, the contribution of religion and the church has not only existential significance and is not limited to its flock,” she said.

“It is directly related to a policy of care and humanism, and it opens the way for peaceful coexistence and prosperity for all of us.”