Pope on Moria migrants, alludes to Minsk protests

Pope Francis on Sunday expressed solidarity with thousands of migrants who h been left homeless by fires at a refugee camp on Greek island of Lesbos.

During his noontime blessing, Francis recalled that he h visited Moria camp during his April 16, 2016 visit to Lesbos, a day trip that ended with Francis bringing 12 Syrian refugees with him back to Rome aboard papal plane.

"I express solidarity and proximity to all victims of se dramatic events,” Francis, who has frequently spoken out for humane treatment of migrants, said during his noontime blessing in Vatican City.

Fires on Tuesday and Wednesday nights gutted Moria, Greece’s largest refugee camp.

Authorities have said residents protesting a lockdown imposed after a coronavirus outbreak deliberately set blazes.

Greek authorities said on Sunday some 12,000 migrants would be moved to an army-built tent city in coming days.

Though brief, Francis' 2016 visit to Moria was one of most memorable foreign trips of his seven-year papacy.

He toured camp with spiritual leer of world's Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, and y issued a joint statement urging world to respond to migration crisis with urgent, practical resources.

Speaking from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square Pope also appealed to leers in countries where re have been protests in recent weeks.

Pontiff asked m to "listen to voice of ir fellow citizens and to meet ir just aspirations by ensuring full respect for human rights and civil liberties", and urged protesters to demonstrate peacefully.