ALL 450-plus of the country's Catholic parishes are prepared to welcome and support refugees, the leaders of the church in Scotland have said.

In a letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia said the church is ready to "place our parish resources at the service of those 21st Century newcomers who find themselves in greatest need".

It followed claims by his counterpart in Edinburgh, Archbishop Leo Cushley, that Europe was facing the greatest migration of people since the Second World War.

He added: "What is more, many Scots Catholics, myself included, hail from families that once fled oppression and poverty in all sorts of places in the 19th and 20th century, to find a new home in this country.

"So how could we not place ourselves at the service of those 21st century newcomers who are in the greatest need?"

As well as a placed within established community networks, the offer from the Catholic Church would bring with it the full support of its charitable and social care organisations, taking on some of the services the state would be expected to provide.

It comes as it emerges the Episcopalian Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway has written to David Cameron, calling on the UK government to respond "warmly and generously to the plight of people fleeing from desperate situations in their homelands".

In his letter Archbishop Tartaglia said he supported Ms Sturgeon's response and was "inspired by Pope Francis" to "offer the assistance of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland in any plans that may emerge in the months to come to support and assist the new arrivals to our country".

Ms Sturgeon, who has made £1million of funding available for those affected by the humanitarian crisis in southern Europe, also encouraged the Prime Minister to do more to help refugees coming to Britain and David Cameron has since said the UK would be able to welcome 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next five years.

It comes as several Scotland's 32 councils have laid out plans to take in an increasing number of refugees.

Edinburgh City Council promised on Thursday to welcome 100 Syrian refugees in the next year.

The local authority had already signed up to take 25 individuals in May but since the First Minister said Scotland would take 1000, they have increased the number.

Glasgow City Council said last week they would be able to welcome an extra 66 Syrian refugees on top of the 55 they have already taken in.

Meanwhile, the leader of Highland Council has suggested that medical workers among refugees given shelter in Scotland could be offered vacant health care jobs.

On Saturday, thousands of people will attend Britain Sees Syria candelight vigils across Scotland to show solidarity for Syrian refugees and the victims of war.

Events will be held in Glasgow's George Square at 14:30 and in Edinburgh, Dundee, Shetland and Orkney.

Archbishop Tartaglia said: "Earlier this month Pope Francis called upon every Catholic parish community in Europe to offer support to refugee families currently fleeing to our continent from the Middle East.

"He said 'In front of the tragedy of the tens of thousands of refugees escaping death by war or hunger on the path towards the hope of life the Gospel calls us, asks us to be ‘neighbours’ of the smallest and most abandoned.'

"In support of your response and inspired by Pope Francis, I write to offer the assistance of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland in any plans that may emerge in the months to come to support and assist the new arrivals to our country."