{France 24} – Pope Francis on Saturday arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos where he was set to meet Orthodox 
Patriarch Bartholomew I and refugees who have been left stranded between their home countries and the European mainland.
The Vatican insisted that Francis’ five-hour visit is purely for humanitarian and religious reasons, and is not meant as a direct criticism of a new deportation plan.
But the high-profile visit is expected to put pressure on the controversial deal between the European Union and Turkey.
Pope Francis was greeted as he descended the stairs from the plane by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians.
The Archbishop of Athens and the head of Lesbos’ tiny Catholic community were also on hand to greet the Catholic pontiff. READ MORE OF THIS STORY
