Pope Francis' visit to the island of Lesbos in Greece on Saturday saw a number of dramatic events, from refugees falling at the pontiff's feet to the pope delivering a powerful speech that targeted Europe's developing stance on the migrant crisis. Perhaps most notable, however, was the conclusion of Francis' visit, which featured the Holy See quite literally rescuing a number of refugees himself.
As the pope left the island, he took 12 Syrians from three families with him. Half of those he rescued were children, whose houses had been destroyed by the unrest in the Middle East. The 12 refugees would be cared for at the Vatican, a spokesman said.
Pope Francis' visit only lasted a few hours, but during that relatively brief period of time, he was able to reach out to a pretty large number of migrants, visiting the Moria detention facility, where thousands of migrants are being held. The island recently became the place for hundreds of deportations amid a new immigration plan by Europe.
Addressing the people in the camp, Pope Francis told them that they were not alone in their plight.
"I want to tell you, you are not alone. As people of faith, we wish to join our voices to speak out on your behalf. Do not lose hope!" he said.
Further emphasizing the grim migrant situation in the region, Pope Francis addressed the large number of migrants who had been killed on the way to the island, which is largely seen by migrants as a pivotal first step towards starting a new life in Europe.
"This is a trip that is a bit different than the others. This is a trip marked by sadness. We are going to encounter the greatest humanitarian catastrophe since World War Two. We will see many people who are suffering, who don't know where to go, who had to flee," Francis said.
"We are also going to a cemetery, the sea. So many people died there. This is what is in my heart as I make this trip."
The pope also encouraged world leaders to resist the temptation to build more walls, emphasizing that "barriers create divisions instead of promoting the true progress of peoples."
Despite most of the migrants in the area not being Catholic, the pope was nonetheless welcomed very warmly. During the pope's five-hour visit, a number of migrants wept at his feet and kissed his hand, and children gave him several drawings. He was also greeted by loud cheers as he made his way into the camp.
