Why Pope Francis Says Europe's Refugee Crisis Is Only the 'Tip of the Iceberg

VATICAN CITY (TheBlaze/AP) — Pope Francis warned Monday that Europe's refugee crisis is just the "tip of the iceberg," fueled by an "unjust" global economic system forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee war and poverty in search of better lives.

In an interview with a Portuguese Catholic radio station, Francis recalled that the Bible requires that strangers be welcomed, though he acknowledged security precautions must be taken into account in today's world.

Pope Francis listens to a speech during a special audience he held for members of the FOCSIV Italian Catholic volunteers, at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

"It is the tip of [the] iceberg. These poor people are fleeing war [and] hunger but that is the tip of the iceberg," Francis said. "Because underneath that is the cause; and the cause is a bad and unjust socioeconomic system, in everything, in the world – speaking of the environmental problem –  in the socioeconomic society, in politics, the person always has to be in the center."

"It's true that 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Sicily, there is an exceedingly cruel terrorist guerrilla group, and it's true there's the danger of infiltration," he told Radio Renascenca in an apparent reference to Islamic State extremists.

Francis repeated his call for parishes around the world to welcome in a migrant family, and said two refugee families have been identified to move into Vatican housing. They can stay "as long as the Lord wants," he said.

He applauded those European countries that had welcomed in migrants and warned what awaits those that don't: "On Judgment Day, we already know what we'll be judged on," he said, reciting the Biblical verse from Matthew 25: "When I was hungry, did you give me food?"

Those countries that answered "Yes"— "I congratulate them. They'll pass the test," he said.

People pass railway tracks as they approach the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija,Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015. Hundred of thousands migrants and refugees trying to reach the heart of Europe via Turkey, Greece, the Balkans and Hungary have faced dangers, difficulties and delays on every link of the journey. (AP Photo/Borce Popovski)

In the interview, Francis also said he hopes to visit Portugal in 2017 to mark the 300th anniversary of the apparitions of the Madonna of Fatima.

In a separate radio interview with an Argentine evangelical Protestant, Francis lamented that he has felt "used" by people claiming to be his friend now that he is pope.

"I have never had so many 'friends' in my life," he said on FM Milenium 106.7. "I have felt used by people who presented themselves as a friend and who I have maybe seen once or twice in my life, and they used this for their benefit.

You can read the full transcript from the interview, translated to English, here.