Pope to reportedly take 10 refugees from Greek Lesbos to Vatican

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Pope is reportedly planning to take 10 refugees back to the Vatican as he urges Europe to relocate the thousands of asylum seekers trapped in Greece, the Independent reports.

A local official confirmed the plan to the AFP news agency as Pope Francis started his tour of the Greek island of Lesbos with Catholic and Orthodox Church leaders.

His plan is not thought to violate the terms of the controversial EU-Turkey deal as the migrants chosen arrived before the deadline of 20 March.

Greece's national broadcaster reported that eight Syrians and two Afghans would be taken on the Pope's plane when he departs Lesbos later on Saturday, April 16, the Independent says.

While Syrians have been prioritized by relocation schemes across Europe, Afghans have been excluded from most programs and barred from crossing borders as they are not automatically considered refugees, despite making up around a quarter of those arriving on the continent's shores.

Pope Francis is expected to call on European countries to relocate thousands of refugees trapped in Greece by shut borders across the continent.