Vatican City, Jul 13 (IANS/AKI): Pope Francis has asked god to help Catholics to be able to cry at the indifference and cruelty in the world but also among themselves.

"Lord, grant us the grace to weep over our indifference, over the cruelty that is in the world and in ourselves," Francis wrote on his Twitter account.

The tweet echoed a homily during an open-mass Francis celebrated on Lampedusa island, the main landing point for migrants from Africa seeking to enter Europe.

Thousands of migrants arrive each year on the tiny southern Italian island and many have perished during the dangerous sea voyage.

Migrant boats have been turned back in the Mediterranean by coastguard patrols or sunk without being rescued.

"We have lost our sense of fraternal responsibility," Francis said in the homily, which deplored "the globalisation of indifference".

"The culture of affluence has made us insensitive to the needs of others," he said.

During his visit to Lampedusa, Francis met migrants from Africa currently being held on the island and cast a wreath into the sea to "weep" for those who lost their lives.