Pope Francis takes 12 refugees back to Vatican after trip to Greece

Pope Francis made an emotional visit into the heart of Europe’s migrant crisis on Saturday and took 12 Muslim refugees from Syria, including six children, with him back to Rome aboard the papal plane.

The action punctuated the pope’s pleas for sympathy to the crisis confronting the refugees just as European attitudes are hardening against them.

Those taken to Rome according to reports were three families, two from Damascus and one from Deir al-Zour, whose homes had been bombed in the Syrian war, the Vatican said in a statement as the pope departed the Greek island of Lesbos, where he had visited the Moria refugee camp. 

"The pope has desired to make a gesture of welcome regarding refugees," the statement said.

The announcement capped a brief trip by the pope to Greece that again placed the plight of migrants at the center of his papacy.

GBC