Three Syrian refugee families board the Pope's private jet as Francis gives them a new life in Rome after visit to Lesbos camp

Pope Francis today rescued a dozen Syrian refugees from a camp in Lesbos and brought them back to Rome following a visit to the Greek island to highlight the humanitarian crisis.  

Pope Francis kissed a refugee baby after his arrival at the Moria camp on Lesbos this morning with Patriarch Bartholomew, left

Three families of Syrian refugees boarded the Pontiff's aircraft shortly after 1pm at the end of his lightening visit to Lesbos. 

A Vatican spokesman said: 'The Pope has desired to make a gesture of welcome regarding refugees, accompanying on his plane to Rome three families of refugees from Syria, 12 people in all, including six children.' 

Many refugees fell to their knees and wept as Francis approached them. Others chanted 'Freedom! Freedom!' as he passed by. Francis bent down as one young girl knelt at his feet sobbing uncontrollably. 

A woman told the pope that her husband was in Germany, but that she was stuck with her two sons in Lesbos. 'Refugees are not numbers, they are people who have faces, names stories and need to be treated as such,' Francis tweeted.

He urged the European Union to change its policy towards the migrants. He said: 'We hope that the world will heed these scenes of tragic and indeed desperate need, and respond in a way worthy of our common humanity.'  

The pope's visit to the island, which has seen the majority of the arrivals of migrants heading into Europe, is highly symbolic. It comes shortly after the European Union began deporting new arrivals back to Turkey under a controversial deal meant to stem the refugee flow.

The pope then meet men and women who have fled their homelands seeking refuge in Europe. Some wept as they met the pope.

One man wept uncontrollably and wailed as he knelt down before Francis on Saturday and said: 'Thank you, God. Thank you. Please Father, bless me.'

Children offered Francis drawings and the pope praised one little girl for her artwork, saying 'Bravo. Bravo.' Then as he handed it off to his staff he stressed: 'Don't fold it. I want it on my desk.'

As he walked by them, shaking hands with the men and bowing to the women, the refugees shouted out their homelands: 'Afghanistan.' 'Syria.'

One little boy ducked his head through a fence to kiss Francis' ring. 

Pope Francis said: 'This is a voyage marked by sadness, a sad voyage,' the pope told reporters during the flight from Rome. 

We will witness the worst humanitarian disaster since the Second World War. We will see so many people who are suffering, who are fleeing and do not know where to go.

'And we are also going to a cemetery, the sea. So many people never arrived.'  

Greek Prime Minister Alex Tspiras greeted Pope Francis upon his arrival on Lesbos. 

During a brief formal meeting, he spoke about the efforts pade by the Greek people in dealing with the refugee crisis: 'I am proud of this, particularly at a time when some of our partners - even in the name of Christian Europe - were erecting walls and fences to prevent defenceless people from seeking a better life. That is why I consider that your visit is historic and important.' 

Bravo Holy Father...Bless you