The Maltese government has asked the Pope to accept an irregular immigrant family as a gesture of solidarity  on the issue of the relocation of irregular migrants, TVM reports

The government, it reports, hopes that such a gesture will set an example for other countries in order for them to do their part. The issue of irregular migration has been a topic of hot debate for a number of years.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry, in a diplomatic communique to the Vatican, said that Malta is dependant on support to facilitate migrant relocations.

TVM reports that the ministry's argument is that the Pope has the moral authority to remind EU leaders that solidarity should be shown in order to help reduce human suffering.