Pope Leo urges global action to help child migrants

VATICAN CITY, ‌Sept 23 (Reuters) - ​Pope ​Leo lamented on Wednesday conditions suffered by migrant and refugee children ‌and urged global action to protect ⁠young people fleeing their home countries in ‌search of safety.

Migrant children "often ‌endure unspeakable suffering, violence, torture, exploitation, and traumatic conditions," the pontiff told ​thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square for his weekly general ⁠audience.

"I appeal to everyone's sense of responsibility," said the ​pope. "May each person feel involved in the lives of these young ​people, who must ‌always be protected and assisted."

Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, has ⁠frequently called for better treatment of migrants and last year criticized U.S. President ⁠Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies.

In April, the pope ​said migrants are often treated "worse than house pets".

Leo did not mention any specific countries on ‌Wednesday. The pope said he was making his appeal ‌ahead of the Catholic Church's World ⁠Day of Migrants ‌and Refugees, celebrated ​on Sunday this year.

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Andrew ‌Cawthorne)

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