Pope Francis greets migrants in the Vatican Published duration 17 January 2016

image copyright Reuters image caption Pope Francis urged migrants not to give up hope

Pope Francis has greeted several thousand migrants in St Peter's Square at the Vatican as the Catholic Church marked a day dedicated to refugees.

The Pontiff said they carried within themselves "a history, a culture, precious values" and urged them not to give up hope.

The migrants - including many asylum seekers - waved their nations' flags during the address.

Europe is struggling to cope with an influx of migrants.

image copyright Reuters image caption Many migrants waved their nations' flags

The Pope has repeatedly called on European states to welcome people fleeing war and poverty.

Synagogue visit

Later he became only the third pope to visit Rome's main synagogue.

Hundreds of armed police and security personnel were deployed for the occasion.

Rome's chief rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni, has said the visit is considered as a sign of 50 years of improving Jewish-Catholic relations.

image copyright AFP/Getty image caption Pope Francis is the third pontiff to visit Rome's main synagogue

In December, the Vatican said that the Roman Catholic Church did not support efforts to convert Jews to Christianity.