Pope Francis on Sunday urged EU leaders to show “concrete solidarity” with 49 migrants stranded on NGO ships off the coast of Malta who have been refused permission to land. “Forty nine migrants rescued in the Mediterranean by two NGO ships have been onboard for several days now, waiting to be able to disembark,” Francis told thousands of people gathered in Saint Peter’s square in Rome. “I address a pressing appeal to European leaders that they show some concrete solidarity with respect to these people,” he added. Both Italy and Malta have refused port access and on Sunday they reiterated that position. That is the line and it will not change,” hardline Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini told the Il Messaggero newspaper.

Source: The Guardian January 06, 2019 11:53 UTC