Tears flow as Pope visits Europe's migrant frontline

Pope Francis and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (R) meet as Pope Francis visits the Greek Island of Lesbos aiming at supporting refugees and drawing attention to the front line of Europe"s migration crisis in Lesbos in this handout photo released by the Greek Prime Minister"s press office, April 16, 2016.

Pope Francis arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos on Saturday, turning the world's attention to the frontline of Europe's migrant crisis which has claimed hundreds of lives in the past year.

Francis, leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, was scheduled to spend about six hours on the small Aegean island. Based on his schedule, he was to meet 250 refugees and have lunch with eight of them.

Hundreds of people have died making the short but precarious crossing from Turkey to the Lesbos shores in inflatable dinghies in the past year, and the island is full of unmarked graves.

"This is a trip that is a bit different than the others ... this is a trip marked by sadness," Francis told reporters on the aeroplane taking him to Lesbos.

"We are going to encounter the greatest humanitarian catastrophe since World War Two. We will see many people who are suffering, who don't know where to go, who had to flee.

We are also going to a cemetery, the sea. So many people died there ... this is what is in my heart as I make this trip."

With Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Francis will visit Moria, a sprawling, fenced complex holding more than 3,000 refugees.

"This is an island which has lifted all the weight of Europe upon its shoulders," Tsipras told Francis at Lesbos airport, where a red carpet was rolled out for the pontiff's arrival. 

You Are Not Alone

"I want to tell you, you are not alone," Francis said in a scripted speech. "... As people of faith, we wish to join our voices to speak out on your behalf. Do not lose hope!" he said, flanked by Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, and Greek Archbishop Ieronymos.

On at least three occasions, adults fell to the feet of the pontiff, weeping and begging for help. One woman wearing a crucifix broke through a police cordon and flung herself at Francis's feet.

"No camp, no camp," the woman, who appeared to be in her early thirties, sobbed. "I want to go."

In a tent where Francis met with migrants, a little girl with pigtails dressed in pink and white bowed at his feet. An adult man broke down. Migrants slipped pieces of paper into his hand as Francis passed by, which he handed to an aide.

The pope has often defended refugees and urged Catholic parishes in Europe to host them. His first trip after becoming pontiff in 2013 was to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, which, like Lesbos, has received thousands of refugees.

Hundreds of people have died making the short but precarious crossing from Turkey to the Lesbos shores in inflatable dinghies in the past year, and the island is full of unmarked graves.

"This is a trip that is a bit different than the others ... this is a trip marked by sadness," Francis told reporters on the plane taking him to Lesbos.

"We are going to encounter the greatest humanitarian catastrophe since World War Two. We will see many people who are suffering, who don't know where to go, who had to flee. 

We are also going to a cemetery, the sea. So many people died there ... this is what is in my heart as I make this trip."

Aid organisations have described conditions at Moria, a disused army camp, as appalling.

"This is like Guantanamo. We just want to leave," said Ahmed, a 29 year old from Mosul in Iraq.

Journalists normally have no access to the facility on a hillside just outside Lesbos's main town of Mytiline, but aid workers said walls were whitewashed, a sewer system fixed and several dozen migrants at the overcrowded facility were transferred to another camp, which the pope will not visit.