In his noon blessing, Francis recalled that the theme of the church’s World Day of Migrants concerned the particular vulnerability of young migrants — “our young brothers” who often flee home alone and face “so many dangers.”“We must adopt every possible measure to guarantee young migrants protection and defense, as well as integration,” he said. The International Organization of Migration, meanwhile, says it recorded 4,576 deaths in 2016 among migrants making the central Mediterranean crossing to Italy. Two dead reached Italian shores on Sunday as the rescue ship Aquarius pulled into port in Messina, Sicily with some 300 migrants from rescue operations Friday. Usually, bad weather and rough seas deter Libyan-based smugglers from launching overloaded boats full of migrants bound for Italy. Further west, Spain’s maritime rescue service said the bodies of seven African migrants have been found dead along the Strait of Gibraltar since Friday.

Source: Washington Post January 15, 2017 11:58 UTC