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Pope Francis visited the island of Lampedusa, in southern Italy on July 8. The pontiff threw a flower wreath into the sea in memory of migrants who have drowned trying to reach Europe, before holding a mass, that the daily La Repubblica described as a "quasi funeral ritual for victims of immigration."
According to United Nations data, about 8,000 people have arrived in southern Italy from North Africa since the start of 2013, with around 40 having died during the crossing. This compares to around 500 who died making the journey in 2012.
