Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned the "massacre" of desperate migrants who are killed in boat disasters on the Mediterranean Sea as they flee their homelands for a new life in Europe. During his weekly general audience, the pope said it was "shameful" that thousands of migrants are killed on the seas between North African and the southern borders of Italy.
Shortly before he spoke, police in southern Italy said they had arrested two alleged human smugglers who authorities say deliberately caused a boat carrying as many as 400 migrants to sink off the coast of Libya Monday to induce an Italian sea rescue.
So far, 17 have been confirmed dead and more than 200 rescued but as many as 200 more are still missing.
The pope appealed for prayers for migrants and the prevention of "these shameful massacres" in future.
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