Pope Francis calls for compassion and open ports for migrants during visit to Marseille

Pope Francis visited Marseille, France and emphasized the need for compassion and open ports for migrants crossing the Mediterranean.
The pope criticized efforts to hinder migrant rescues and rescue vessels operated by NGOs.
Francis met with French President Emmanuel Macron twice and urged European leaders to provide legal pathways to citizenship.
The pope's visit comes amid a surge of migrant arrivals in Italy and hardline immigration policies by European leaders.
Francis denounced the notion of a "migrant emergency" and said migration is a long-term reality requiring justice and empathy.