Pope pledges to relocate 50 asylum seekers to Italy

They are our brothers and sisters,' pontiff says, as Greece struggles with unprecedented influx of migrants

Pope Francis will travel to Cyprus with a message of compassion for the thousands of migrants who have fled to the east Mediterranean island, and a promise that by the end of the year 50 migrants will have been relocated to Italy.

The pontiff embarks on the politically sensitive tour on Thursday as the EU country closest to the Middle East struggles with an unprecedented influx of asylum seekers.