Italians urged to respect rights of immigrants

Rome, 11 Jan-(ANA)-Pope Benedict XVI has called on Italians to respect the rights of immigrants.

It comes after a wave of violence against African farm workers in southern Italy which left some 70 people injured.

Police have evacuated hundreds of Africans by bus from the town of Rosarno, in Calabria.

Correspondents say the problem is closely related to organised crime in the region.

Pope Benedict XVI spoke out strongly in favour of the rights of poor African farm workers, who have been the target of violence in recent days.

"An immigrant is a human being, different only in where he comes from, his culture and tradition," he told pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square at the Vatican.

"He is a person to respect and with rights and responsibilities, and should be respected particularly in the working world where there is an temptation to exploit."

"We have to go to the heart of the problem, of the significance of the human being," the Pope said.

"Violence must never be a means to solve difficulties.

"The problem is a human one, and I invite everyone to look in the face of those nearby and see their soul, their history and their life and say to themselves: it is a man and God loves him as God loves me." (ANA)

FA/ANA/11 January 2010---