Pope Francis has called for Europe to show solidarity with the 49 migrants on two NGO vessels stranded off Malta's coast.

Speaking after the Angelus at St Peter's Square, Pope Francis said: "49 persons rescued from the Mediterranean Sea have been aboard two NGO ships for several days, seeking harbour for disembarkation. I urgently appeal to European leaders to show concrete solidarity with these people."

The two ships, operated by NGOs Sea-Watch and Sea-Eye, are currently close to the Maltese coast having been allowed to take up shelter from bad weather three nautical miles off the island.  Those on the Sea-Watch were rescued on 22 December whilst those on the Sea-Eye's vessel were rescued a week later.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that allowing the two vessels to enter Malta would be setting a precedent, whilst Italy has refused to open its ports either amid contradictory statements from deputy Prime Ministers Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini.  The Netherlands and Germany meanwhile have indicated that they would be ready to take some of the migrants themselves provided other countries do too.  

Discussions for the redistribution of the migrants, much akin to those which took place back in June amidst the Lifeline case, are ongoing at a European level, whilst Malta is also calling for the distribution of 249 other migrants who were rescued by the Armed Forces over the holiday period.  

Several prominent figures have called for solidarity towards the stranded migrants, not least the bishops of Malta and Gozo who have urged European governments to take action, with Malta's archbishop Charles J. Scicluna also visiting the impounded MV Lifeline on Saturday.