Pope Francis will visit the Greek island of Lesbos on April 16 to show his support for migrants affected by the European Union's struggle to deal with an influx of more than a million people fleeing war and poverty.

"Accepting the invitation from his Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and the president of the Greek Republic, his Holiness Francesco will travel to Lesbos on April 16, 2016" where he "will meet with refugees," the Vatican said in a statement released on Thursday.