Pope Francis insists Europe does not have migrant ’emergency’

Pope Francis attends the final session of the Rencontres Mediterraneennes meeting at the Palais du Pharo in Marseille, southern France (Sebastien Nogier, Pool via AP)

Pope Francis has challenged French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders to open their ports to people fleeing hardship and poverty, insisting that the continent does not face a migration “emergency” but rather a long-term reality that governments must deal with humanely.

For a second straight day in the French port city of Marseille, Francis took aim at European countries that have tried to close their doors to migrants and tried to shame them into responding with charity instead.