Pope Francis urges Europe to keep welcoming migrants

Pope Francis on Monday urged European governments to keep welcoming migrants, despite concerns over security and terrorism which he said were threatening Europe's status as a "beacon for humanity".

Speaking in the aftermath of the mass sexual assaults in Cologne, the pontiff said: "The present wave of migration seems to be undermining the foundations of that 'humanistic spirit' which Europe has always loved and defended."

But he added: "Yet there should be no loss of the values and principles of humanity, respect for the dignity of every person... however much they may prove, in some moments of history, a burden difficult to bear."