Pope Francis arrives at Lesbos migrant camp

Pope Francis began a visit to the migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos Sunday to highlight refugee issues and call for their integration in Europe in the face of anti-migrant sentiment.

The pope is visiting the temporary camp of Mavrovouni, which replaced the sprawling camp of Moria which he had toured in 2016.

On the second day of his visit to Greece, he arrived to a small group of mostly child asylum seekers standing behind metal barriers. One bystander said "love you", prompting the pontiff to affectionately greet the infants.

The pope's trip to Lesbos will be shorter than his last, officials said, as he will fly back to Athens on Sunday to hold a mass for some 2,500 people at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall.

On Lesbos, the pontiff will deliver an Angelus prayer in a camp tent in the presence of Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, EU vice-president Margaritis Schinas and Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi.

"His visit is a blessing," said Rosette Leo, a Congolese asylum seeker carrying a two-month-old baby as she waited in line for the ceremony. —Agence France-Presse