Pope Francis has called on European leaders to stop arguing over the fate of 49 migrants aboard two humanitarian ships in the Mediterranean and to offer them a safe port of call.

Addressing around 60,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Catholic feast of the Epiphany, the Pope urged leaders to show their support for the migrants stranded aboard the Sea Watch and the Sea Eye vessels.

“I am making a heartfelt appeal to European leaders to demonstrate concrete solidarity for these people,” Francis said. They are “looking for a safe port where they could disembark”, he added.

Thirty-two people, including several small children and teenagers, were rescued by the Sea-Watch 3, a vessel run by a German humanitarian group, off the coast of Libya on December 22. Seventeen others were saved by another ship run by the German humanitarian group, Sea-Eye, on December 29.

“Let’s stop this unacceptable violation of international and fundamental rights, let them disembark immediately!” Sea Watch Tweeted.