Pope Francis spoke out with emotion about the latest tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea, where some 130 people are believed dead after a rubber boat was found capsized northeast of the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
"I confess I am extremely sad over the tragedy that has once again taken place in the Mediterranean. One hundred thirty migrants died in the sea," the pope said after praying the midday Regina Caeli on April 25.
A statement from a crisis hotline called Alarm Phone said they were "in contact with this boat in distress over a period of 10 hours, on 21 April, and repeatedly relayed its GPS position and the dire situation on board to European and Libyan authorities and the wider public."
But only non-state rescue groups actively responded to the call. Alarm Phone said European authorities failed to do anything, and left the situation in the hands of the insufficient resources of the Libyan Coast Guard.
