Stop human traffickers, Pope Francis says after Italy's migrant shipwreck

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis meets with members of Roman pontifical universities and institutions at the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, February 25, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -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.