Welcoming migrants from Africa, the Middle East and Asia can make us better human beings and foster dialogue between faiths and cultures, Pope Francis said in a message quoted by Vatican Radio on Tuesday.
"Consider the presence of the many migrant brothers and sisters an opportunity of human growth, of meeting and dialogue between cultures and religions, also as an occasion to witness the gospel of mercy," read the message to a youth conference in the southern Italian Puglia region on migration in the Mediterranean, Vatican Radio said.
Francis hoped the conference would "enkindle a renewed commitment to promoting a culture of hospitality and solidarity, and thus promote peace and fraternity among peoples,” read the message, quoted by Vatican Radio.
The message was sent by Vatican secretary of state Archbishop Pietro Parolin, Vatican Radio said.
Francis has frequently urged nations to do more to help refugees and last year called on every parish in Europe to take in at least one refugee family.
He has brought 21 Syrian refugees to Rome from Lesbos since he visited a migrant centre on the Greek island in mid-April.
In January, the Vatican parish of St Peter's Basilica provided an apartment for an Eritrean family with five children and last September its Sant'Anna parish took in a Syrian couple and their two children.
