Pope urges respect for refugee rights

VATICAN CITY, June 18 (Reuters) Pope Benedict, speaking ahead of the United Nations World Refugee Day, today said the rights of those forced to leave their homelands must always be respected.

''These brothers and sisters of ours seek refuge in other countries, moved by the hope of returning home, or, at least, finding hospitality where they have fled,'' he told thousands of pilgrims and tourists in St Peter's Square for his today's address.

''I hope the rights of these people are always respected and I encourage the Church community to help them,'' he said.

The annual day, honouring 20 million people who have fled conflict or persecution, is being observed at events in more than 100 countries under the theme of ''Hope'' on June 20.

Church groups around the world have expressed concern over the detention of refugees and migrants.

Cardinal Renato Martino, the Vatican's top official on migration issues, told a seminar last week that religious leaders were concerned that detention of migrants and refugees was becoming more a rule than an exception in many countries.

While the Pope was delivering his address, the square hosted some 125 Ferrari sports cars whose owners are on a tour of central Italy.

''Ah, we can hear the cars,'' the Pope joked with the crowd when the drivers honked their horns and revved their engines to get his attention.

REUTERS KD RN1720