Story highlights The pontiff spoke to migrants about his visit to a Greek refugee camp

American Jewish Committee asks he reconsider "regrettable" word choice

Rome (CNN) Pope Francis has drawn a rebuke from the American Jewish Committee after he likened European refugee centers to "concentration camps."

The Pope was speaking to migrants at the Basilica of St. Bartholomew on Saturday about a man he met at a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos last year.

Pope Francis, center, leads the Easter Vigil at St. Peter's Basilica on April 15.

"I don't know if he was able to get out of that concentration camp, because the refugee camps -- many -- are concentration (camps), because they are so crowded with people," the Pope said in Italian.

The AJC issued a statement asking the pontiff to reconsider his "regrettable" choice of words.

"The conditions in which migrants are currently living in some European countries may well be difficult, and deserve still greater international attention, but concentration camps they certainly are not," said AJC CEO David Harris.

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