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By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, June 17 (Reuters) \u2013 Pope Francis paid tribute on Wednesday to hundreds of thousands of seafarers stuck on ships<\/a> due to the coronavirus pandemic, a situation the United Nations has said poses a risk to the safe operation of the world\u2019s merchant fleet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In a special video message for sea workers, Francis said the work of maritime personnel and fishermen had been made even more important during the pandemic because it was providing the world with food and other primary needs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He said they had been hit particularly hard by the ripple effects of the pandemic.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn these past months, your lives and your work have seen significant changes; you have had to make, and are continuing to make, many sacrifices,\u201d Francis said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLong periods spent aboard ships without being able to disembark, separation from families, friends and native countries, fear of infection\u2026All these things are a heavy burden to bear, now more than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n