I dream of a Europe where being a migrant is not a crime

Vatican City, ACCRA, MAY 6, (dpa/GNA) - Europe should be an open and multicultural society, welcoming refugees and helping young people start a family by offering adequate job opportunities, says Pope Francis in an acceptance speech for the Charlemagne Prize.

Europe needs to "respect the foreigner, the immigrant and people from different cultures as worthy of being listened to" and follow the "moral obligation" of building a new economic system with "dignified and well-paying jobs, especially for our young people."

Recalling the founding fathers of the European Union, such as Robert Schuman and Alcide De Gasperi, Francis says: "Today, more than ever, their vision inspires us to build bridges and tear down walls."

"I dream of a Europe where being a migrant is not a crime but a summons to greater commitment on behalf of the dignity of every human being," the pontiff says.

GNA