VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on Sunday called on authorities to stop human traffickers operating in the Mediterranean, as he expressed his sorrow over last week’s migrant boat disaster off Italy’s Calabrian coast, in which dozens of people were killed.

“I renew my appeal to prevent such tragedies from happening again. May traffickers of human beings be stopped,” the pope said in his weekly address to crowds in St. Peter’s Square.

Local authorities said that 70 bodies had so far been recovered following the incident. The migrants had departed from Turkiye and were from countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Somalia and Syria.

Around 80 people survived after the boat broke up and sank near Steccato di Cutro, a resort on the Calabria region’s eastern coast.

“I pray for the many victims of the shipwreck, for their families and for those who survived,” the pope said.

Right-wing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has also praised the pope’s remarks.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2023