BBC Online :Pope Francis is visiting a detention camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, telling the migrants there that they “are not alone”.The Moria camp holds more than 3,000 people, some of whom may face deportation to Turkey.Francis said his Greek trip was to witness “the worst humanitarian disaster since the Second World War”.Thousands are now stuck on Lesbos after last month’s EU-Turkey deal to try to ease the flow of migrants.The Vatican insists that the Pope’s visit is purely humanitarian and religious in nature and should not be seen as a criticism of the deportations.Dozens of refugees lined up in the Moria camp to see the Pope, some holding banners asking for help.Pope Francis met a group of young boys who had made the dangerous overseas journey alone. As he toured the camp, TV pictures showed one woman kneeling at his feet, delivering an emotional appeal.A young girl handed him some artwork. The Pope said “Bravo, Bravo”, before telling his staff: “Don’t fold it. I want it on my desk.”In his speech, the Pope acknowledged “the great sacrifice” the people in the camp had made, saying he wanted to “draw the attention of the world to this grave humanitarian crisis”.Calling on the world to show “common humanity” over the crisis, he told the camp’s residents: “Do not lose hope. The greatest gift we can offer to one another is love.”On his plane journey to Lesbos, the Pope told reporters: “This is a voyage marked by sadness… We will witness the worst humanitarian disaster since the Second World War.”We will see so many people who are suffering, who are fleeing and do not know where to go. And we are also going to a cemetery, the sea. So many people never arrived.”The Pope was met at Lesbos Mytilene airport by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual head of the world’s Orthodox Christians, and Archbishop of Athens Ieronimos II.At the Moria camp, the Pope will also observe a minute’s silence for those who have died making dangerous sea crossings in search of a better life.Greece’s ERT state television reported that Pope Francis had offered to take 10 refugees back to Italy with him. Vatican spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi said he could not comment.In September, the Pope made space in the Vatican apartments for two refugee families, urging Catholics across Europe to play their part to resolve the crisis.On the eve of the Lesbos visit, one Syrian attempted to kill himself at the camp after being told he would be deported back to Turkey but was prevented by police.Migrants later demonstrated, demanding better treatment and to stay in Europe. They complain the camp is overcrowded and there is a lack of food.This is a short, but highly symbolic visit designed to draw attention to what the Vatican has described as a difficult situation.The Pope has repeatedly called for compassion to be shown to people fleeing terror, turmoil and hardship. He will be hoping his trip to Lesbos will stir Europe’s conscience.It comes as the EU’s handling of the migrant crisis faces intense criticism from aid agencies and human rights groups. The Pope will meet refugees at a camp where more than 3,000 people are now effectively incarcerated in conditions aid workers say are deplorable.
