Pope Francis came to the defense of immigrants that are being turned away at the borders of European nations on Tuesday.
In his weekly general audience, Pope Francis explained that the countries closing their borders to immigrants need "forgiveness" from God.
"I invite you all to ask forgiveness for the persons and the institutions who close the door to these people who are seeking a family, who are seeking to be protected," he said in a speech that was unscripted, according to Reuters. "These brothers and sisters of ours are seeking refuge far from their lands, they are seeking a home where they can live without fear."
The comments come in the middle of an influx in immigration happening in Europe, specifically Mediterranean nations. At the French-Italian border, there have even been clashes between police and migrants, Reuters reported. Austria has also "stepped up" border control on refugees coming from Italy. Because other countries are not allowing as many immigrants in, Italy has been forced to turn some away, leaving migrants stranded at train station across the nation's main cities.
Italy has taken the brunt of the recent immigration influx because of its location, according to Stratfor.com:
"Italy is a key entry point for asylum seekers from Africa and the Middle East crossing the sea, mostly from Libya. Since 2013, Italy and other EU members have been holding rescue operations at sea, but because of the so-called Dublin regulations (according to which the country of first entry is responsible for the asylum application of migrants), most of the men, women and children rescued are supposed to remain in Italy. According to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, more than 57,000 migrants have been rescued at sea and taken to Italy so far this year, up from 54,000 at the same time last year."
Politicians in Italy and other EU nations are split over the issue. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has "threatened retaliation" if fellow developed countries in Europe do not open their borders and illeviate pressure from Italy.
Contrarily, Matteo Salvini, leader of the country's Northern League, responded to the pope, asking "Out of curiosity, how many immigrants are there in the Vatican State?"
Salvini's Northern League caters to those who fear that immigrants take jobs away from native Italians.
Hungary has taken matters into its own hands, as it announced the building of a wall along its shared border with Serbia on Tuesday.
"Immigration is one of the most serious problems facing the European Union today," said Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, according to IBTimes. "The EU's countries seek a solution ... but Hungary cannot afford to wait any longer. We are talking about a stretch of border 175 km (110 miles) long, whose physical closure can happen with a four-meter high fence."
According to the report, 57,000 migrants entered Hungary through May, which, like Italy, already surpasses last year's total.
