MARSEILLES, France, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Saturday condemned "belligerent nationalisms" and called for a pan-European response to migration to stop the Mediterranean, where thousands have drowned, from becoming "the graveyard of dignity". According to UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, about 178,500 migrants have come to Europe via the Mediterranean this year, while about 2,500 died or went missing. Governments in several European countries, including Italy, Hungary, and Poland, are led by outspoken opponents of immigration. Francis called on people to "hear the cries of pain" rising from North Africa and the Middle East. On Friday, he said migrants who risk drowning at sea "must be rescued" because doing so was "a duty of humanity" and that those who impede rescues commit "a gesture of hate".

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Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, Emmanuel Macron, Saint Mother Teresa, Yara, Philip Pullella, Peter Graff Organizations: Palais du, REUTERS, UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, Thomson Locations: MARSEILLES, France, Marseille, Rome, Marseilles, Saint Mauront, Europe, Italy, Hungary, Poland, North Africa