Europe Migrant Crisis: Pope Francis Calls Catholics To Shelter Refugees

Catholic pope Francis called European parishes Sunday to host a family of refugees.

Reuters reports that Francis said that all European churches or parishes should shelter a family of refugees as a gesture of solidarity. It would start, according to him, in the Vatican state where he resides.

After his address in the enclave, the Pope said: "I appeal to the parishes, the religious communities, the monasteries and sanctuaries of all Europe to ... take in one family of refugees."

The United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR estimates the number of refugees this year to be 366,402. As the refugees went through open seas to find asylum, 2,800 are reported dead or missing.

"This is a primarily refugee crisis, not only a migration phenomenon," said António Guterres, UN high commissioner for refugees.

CNN reports that with a large number of refugees that keep coming in, Austria said that it can't keep up any longer. 

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann said that after receiving more than 12,000 refugees, the country wants a gradual reduction in the number of those who continuously come through.

"We have always said this is an emergency situation, which we have to handle quickly and humanely," said Faymann. "We have helped more than 12,000 people in an acute situation. We must now step by step go from emergency measures to a normality that is humane and complies with the law."

Germany, although known to be very welcoming to the refugees, also expressed a concern regarding taking in many refugees.

"The great helpfulness that Germany has shown in these last weeks and months should not be worn thin," the Interior Ministry said in a statement, as per CNN.

Germany calls all European countries to work together and share responsibility for the refugees.

The Pope, addressing all European churches as 12,000 refugees came into Austria, said: "May every parish, every religious community, every monastery, every sanctuary of Europe host a family, starting from my diocese of Rome."

"The two parishes in the Vatican these days will welcome two families of refugees," he added.

In a separate message, the Pope spoke in criticism of a wall that Hungary is building on the European Union's border.

"It is violence to build walls and barriers to stop those who look for a place of peace. It is violence to push back those who flee inhuman conditions in the hope of a better future," he said in a letter, according to Reuters.

Pope Francis added that taking in refugees will be a "concrete gesture" in preparation for the "year of mercy" which is scheduled to begin this Dec. 8.