Pope prays for kindness to refugees as Malta visit ends

Pope Francis arrives at St Paul’s Basilica in Rabat, Malta (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Pope Francis prayed for the world to show more kindness and compassion to refugees as he paid tribute in Malta on Sunday to the shipwrecked St Paul and met migrants who, like the apostle, arrived on the Mediterranean island and were welcomed.

Francis began his second and final day in Malta by visiting the Grotto of St Paul in Rabat, where the disciple stayed after being shipwrecked en route to Rome in AD60.