“With great sadness and much pain, I think of the victims of the very serious shipwreck that occurred in recent days off the coast of Greece,” the pope told those gathered.
He added, “that the sea was calm”, referring to the circumstances in which the overcrowded trawler reportedly carrying around 750 people including 100 children mostly from Egypt, Syria and Pakistan capsized.
The ship sank off the Greek coastal town of Pylos in the Peloponnese region in what was the worst tragedy in the Mediterranean in several years.
“I reiterate my prayer for those who have lost their lives, and I implore that everything possible always be done to prevent similar tragedies,” continued the pope.
The UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration said in a joint statement on Friday that the boat had reportedly been in distress since Tuesday morning.
The Hellenic Coast Guard announced a large-scale search and rescue operation on Wednesday morning, after the boat capsized, according to the statement.
“We welcome the investigations that have been ordered in Greece into the circumstances which eventually led to the boat capsizing and the loss of so many lives,” the UN agencies said.
The boat was travelling from Tobruk in Libya to Italy and somehow ended up off course.
104 people were pulled out of the water to safety and 78 bodies retrieved.
The pontiff also recalled that June 20 is World Refugee Day, promoted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The day celebrates the strength and courage of those forced to flee their home to escape conflict or persecution, and this year takes the theme “hope away from home”.
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