Pope Francis appeals for help for Desperate Migrants

Sunday April 19 th 2015 This disaster happened when a boat carrying migrants capsized off the Libyan coast overnight. This was regarded as ‘one of the worst disasters seen in the Mediterranean migrant crisis,’ officials said on Sunday

Pope Francis said: "There are fears there could be hundreds of dead," then he bowed his head in silent prayer

Pope Francis……. Pope Francis, speaking after some 700 migrants were feared dead in the Mediterranean, on Sunday appealed to the international community to take swift and decisive action to avoid more tragedies. "They are men and women like us, our brothers seeking a better life, starving, persecuted, wounded, exploited, victims of war. They were looking for a better life,“ Pope Francis’s words to the tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square for his Sunday noon address. VATICAN CITY, April 19 (Reuters)

Pope Francis "Faced with such a tragedy, I express my most heartfelt pain and promise to remember the victims and their families in prayer," he said, departing from his prepared text. "I make a heartfelt appeal to the international community to react decisively and quickly to see to it that such tragedies are not repeated," he said, before asking the crowd to pray "for these brothers and sisters." "Faced with such a tragedy, I express my most heartfelt pain and promise to remember the victims and their families in prayer," he said, departing from his prepared text. "I make a heartfelt appeal to the international community to react decisively and quickly to see to it that such tragedies are not repeated," he said, before asking the crowd to pray "for these brothers and sisters."

Migrants risk their lives to reach Italy Last year a record 170,000 people, fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East, made the perilous crossing to Italy.

Prayer for Migrants and Refugees Mary Most Holy, together with St. Joseph and your Son Jesus, you experienced the suffering of exile. You were forced to flee to Egypt to escape the persecution of Herod. Today we entrust the men, women and children who live as migrants and refugees to your maternal protection. Grant us the grace to welcome them with Christian hospitality, so that that these brothers and sisters of ours may find acceptance and understanding on their journey. Amen.

Prayer Almighty and merciful God, Your Son became a refugee and had no place to call his own; look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger, homeless and hungry. Bless those who work to bring them relief; inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts; Almighty and merciful God, Your Son became a refugee and had no place to call his own; look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger, homeless and hungry. Bless those who work to bring them relief; inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts; and guide the nations of the world towards that day when all will know peace in your Kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.