Pope Francis prays for migrants in special Mass, says they 'must be helped'

Pope Francis  prayed for migrants all over the world in a special Mass on Monday. 

The closed-door Mass at St. Peter's Basilica celebrated the sixth anniversary of his visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa, a common entry point off the Mediterranean Sea for migrants and refugees trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.

"They are persons," Pope Francis said in his Mass. "These are not mere social or migrant issues. They are the symbol of all those rejected by today's globalized society."

The Mass was broadcast on national TV, Reuters reported, but closed off to the general public. It was attended by 250 people, among them migrants, volunteers and representatives of Catholic aid groups.

“The weakest and most vulnerable must be helped,” said the Pope on Monday, according to Reuters.

“This is a tremendous responsibility, from which no one is exempt if we wish to fulfil the mission of salvation and liberation, in which the Lord himself has called us to cooperate.”

A blessed welcome wagon:Pope Francis welcomes migrant children by offering ride in popemobile

The United Nations' International Organization for Migration reported that more than 682 migrants have died this year trying to cross the Mediterranean, and that 10,603 have died since 2014.

In May, the pope offered migrant children a ride in the popemobile as a show of support for migrants arriving in Europe. Last year, he stood by statements from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops condemning President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" child separation policies.

Contributing: The Associated Press.

Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote