NewsWorld Pope condemns treatment of migrants in Europe by Barbados Today 05/12/2021 written by Barbados Today Updated by Desmond Brown 05/12/2021 1 min read A+A- Reset Share FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail 236 The Pope has denounced “narrow self-interest and nationalism” over the way Europe treats migrants. Speaking on the Greek island of Lesbos, where he met dozens of migrants, Pope Francis said they were being used for political propaganda. He urged focus on the causes of migration, such as “forgotten wars”, instead of punishing those who feel their effects. And he criticised the building of walls to keep people out. “In Europe there are those who persist in treating the problem as a matter that does not concern them – this is tragic,” he said. “History teaches us that narrow self-interest and nationalism lead to disastrous consequences.” While the coronavirus pandemic had shown that major challenges had to be confronted together and there were some signs of this happening on climate change, there was little sign of such an approach to migration, he said. “It is easy to influence public opinion by instilling fear of the other,” Pope Francis said. “The remote causes should be attacked, not the poor people who pay the consequences and are even used for political propaganda.” The Pope cited war, economic agreements “where the people have to pay” and the flow of weapons as factors leading people to seek a better life elsewhere. Barbados Today Stay informed and engaged with our digital news platform. The leading online multimedia news resource in Barbados for news you can trust. You may also like At least 16 people in attack on Hanukkah celebration on Sydney beach 14/12/2025 Prime Minister Mia Mottley named among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women for... 11/12/2025 Trump administration pauses immigration applications from 19 ‘high-risk’ countries 03/12/2025
