Renzi praises pope's visit to Lesbos

(ANSA) - Rome, April 15 - Italian Premier Matteo Renzi on Friday expressed gratitude and appreciation for Pope Francis's visit to the Greek island of Lesbos in support of refugees there on Saturday.
    "Pope Francis's trip is a gesture for which we must say thank you, a very simple but very strong gesture, therefore the first element is gratitude. The pope has repeatedly called the EU to a different role," Renzi said.
    The pope's visit to the Greek island follows one he made to the Italian island of Lampedusa in July 2013, three mponths after becoming pontiff, in which he voiced his concerns over the migrant and refugee emergency and the many lives being lost at sea.