MARSEILLE, France&nbsp;—&nbsp;Pope Francis said on Friday (Sept 22)&nbsp;that migrants who risk drowning at sea "must be rescued," calling it "a duty of humanity, a duty of civilisation".

Speaking at the start of a trip centred on migration issues in the Mediterranean, he said that impeding such rescues is "a gesture of hate".
<img alt="" data-caption="Pope Francis greets a faithful, near the stele dedicated to sailors and migrants lost at sea, during a visit which is a part of the Mediterranean meetings (MED2023) in Marseille, France, Sept 22, 2023.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
PHOTO: Reuters" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5095e4dc-cde4-4d41-940a-81966202451e" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/0923_pope_1.jpg" />
He spoke at an inter-religious prayer service at a monument dedicated in the port city of Marseille to those lost at sea.

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Pope Francis looks on, near the stele dedicated to sailors and migrants lost at sea, during a visit which is a part of the Mediterranean meetings (MED2023) in Marseille, France, Sept 22, 2023. 

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Reuters

MARSEILLE, France — Pope Francis said on Friday (Sept 22) that migrants who risk drowning at sea "must be rescued," calling it "a duty of humanity, a duty of civilisation". Speaking at the start of a trip centred on migration issues in the Mediterranean, he said that impeding such rescues is "a gesture of hate". He spoke at an inter-religious...

Pope says impeding migrant rescues at sea is 'gesture of hate'