[WATCH] Pope Francis criticises 'elderly' Europe

Pope Francis warned that the world sees Europe as "somewhat elderly and haggard", during a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

He said the continent felt "less and less a protagonist", in a world that regarded it with mistrust.

“In recent years, as the EU has expanded, there has been growing mistrust on the part of citizens towards institutions considered to be aloof, engaged in laying down rules perceived as insensitive to individual peoples, if not downright harmful,” he told MEPs.

He also called for a "united response" to the arrival of boatloads of poor and desperate migrants in Europe.

In a statement issued today, the Jesuit Refugee Service in Europe urged European countries to “remain faithful to one of the fundamental values underpinning the European Union by showing concrete solidarity with migrants and refugees and ensuring fully-fledged joint search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean so that people do not continue to die in the Mediterranean.” 

JRS said European solidarity with those who are fleeing for their lives, as well as solidarity between EU member states has recently been found greatly lacking.

“Refugees and forced migrants are rarely viewed with compassion as fellow human beings in need, and the responsibility to protect them has all but been forgotten.“

It noted that the substitution of Italian naval operation ‘Mare Nostrum’ which saved over 140,000 people by Operation ‘Triton’ led by the EU border agency Frontex only operates within 30 nautical miles off the Italian coast on a third of the budget and considerably fewer resources.

“For Europe, the need to secure borders seems to be more important than saving the lives of people,” JRS said.

“Border control should never be at the expense of human rights. To turn a blind eye to the people dying at our borders is to undermine everything the EU is supposed to stand for.  Europe cannot claim to be an area of freedom, justice and security if the only rights we care about are our own,” JRS Malta director Katrine Camilleri said.

JRS Europe regional director Fr Jean-Marie Carrière, SJ said that it is really a question of moral integrity. “Pope Francis reminds us that helping migrants is a central part of the Christian tradition. More importantly, our solidarity should extend beyond simply offering persecuted people a safe place to live. True hospitality goes further than tolerance and must always mean membership in a community.”