As over 800 illegal immigrants arrived on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa on Thursday, the local mayor criticised the Vatican saying it should open the doors of its convents and seminaries to host immigrants."The Vatican needs to stop reproaching the central government and instead open the doors of convents, empty seminaries, abbeys, so that women and children can be hosted by the Church," said the Mayor of Lampedusa, Bernardino De Rubeis, speaking to Radio channel Ecoradio.
"The Church in Rome should not be unmoved by the suffering of these people and not commit any more errors as it did in the past by remaining silent in the face of a major phenomenon where there is death," said De Rubeis.
He also called for an urgent visit by the Interior Minister Roberto Maroni to the island.
Most of the immigrants arrived early on Thursday in numerous boats and rubber dinghies. They were all rescued by Coast Guard Police.
De Rubeis said facilities were seriously stretched on the island.
"The temporary holding centre in Lampedusa is near collapse. It has been turned into a permanent holding centre. We lack hygienic facilities, potable water and a drainage system," the mayor said.
Lampedusa's temporary holding centre can only host a maximum of 1,500 people.
"We are tired of this 'trading post' of human bodies," concluded De Rubeis.
Italy has the European Union's longest coastline - 4,500 kilometres - making it difficult to police and one of the preferred arrival points for migrants seeking a better life in Europe.
Tens of thousands of illegal migrants cross to southern Europe from North Africa each year aboard people smugglers' boats, typically paying thousands of dollars for their passage.
Italy recently approved a controversial new law targeting illegal immigrants with harsher penalties and swifter deportation procedures, following an election pledge by the new centre-right government to stop illegal immigration.
For the first time, illegal immigration will now be treated as an "aggravating circumstance" punishable with a custodial sentence of between six months and four years in prison.
The new law extends the period of time for which illegal immigrants may be detained from two to 18 months.
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