Archbishop Calls for European Accompaniment Plan
Archbishop Gian Carlo Perego of Ferrara-Comacchio, who also serves as the president of the Italian bishops' Migrantes Foundation, issued a poignant call on October 24, 2025, for European nations to deploy ships to transport migrants from Africa to Europe. The archbishop's plea comes in the wake of a tragic boat accident off the coast of Tunisia, which claimed the lives of numerous individuals seeking to reach European shores. He stressed the importance of creating 'humanitarian and legal channels of entry' and a 'European plan of accompaniment' across the Mediterranean Sea.
Tragic Loss of Life Off Tunisian Coast
The archbishop's urgent appeal was prompted by a devastating incident that occurred on October 22, 2025. A boat carrying approximately 70 irregular migrants capsized off the coast of Mahdia, Tunisia, shortly after departing from the village of Salakta. The disaster resulted in the deaths of 40 people, among whom were nine women, 19 men, and 12 children under the age of five. Fortunately, 30 individuals were rescued by Tunisian naval units. The migrants involved in the accident were primarily from sub-Saharan African countries, undertaking the perilous journey across the Mediterranean. This incident marks one of the deadliest maritime tragedies recorded along the North African coast this year.
A Call for Humanitarian Pathways and Against 'Walls'
In his statement, Archbishop Perego highlighted the dire circumstances faced by those attempting the dangerous crossing. He called for 'attentiveness to the needs of the people fleeing countries where fundamental rights are not protected and where they have lost everything due to environmental disasters and wars.' The archbishop criticized the current approach, stating, 'Once again, we do not want to create humanitarian and legal channels of entry, but rather we prefer to build walls, forgetting that migrants, as Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV have recalled, are a blessing.' He further emphasized that asylum seekers 'must not be abandoned to human traffickers' and advocated for the Mediterranean to become a route of 'accompaniment' with ships from across Europe.
Ongoing Mediterranean Migration Crisis
The Central Mediterranean route remains one of the world's most perilous migration paths, with thousands attempting the journey annually, often departing from Libya or Tunisia. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported nearly 1,000 deaths and disappearances in the Central Mediterranean in 2025 as of October 23. Organizations like the IOM continue to call for enhanced safety measures and coordinated international action to prevent further loss of life. The European Union has been working on a comprehensive migration approach since 2015, focusing on border management and asylum policies, yet tragedies persist.
5 Comments
Stan Marsh
The Archbishop's call for humanitarian pathways is commendable, but the practicalities of integrating such large numbers of people into European societies are immense. There must be a balanced approach that considers both compassion and capacity.
Eric Cartman
While the loss of life is undeniably tragic, deploying rescue ships without addressing root causes could create an even stronger pull factor. We need a more sustainable, long-term strategy, not just transport.
Stan Marsh
Safe passages are essential. We cannot keep letting people drown.
Kyle Broflovski
This plan would just empower traffickers further. Think it through!
Stan Marsh
Acknowledging the dire circumstances migrants face is important, yet the idea of Europe-wide ships might be exploited by human traffickers, increasing the danger. We need to dismantle trafficking networks while offering genuine protection.