The Bishops of Malta and Gozo in a brief statement this evening urged the authorities to respect the rights of migrants.
Archbishop Paul Cremona and Bishop Mario Grech referred to the statements in Lampedusa yesterday by Pope Francis and urged the government to safeguard the dignity of all those who arrived on Malta's shores.
The authorities were also urged to respect international obligations and continue to follow a policy of hospitality.
At the same time, they urged the authorities to continue to insist through all legitimate means that other countries should share the burden of migration.