Pope Francis condemns attack on Capitol Hill and calls for “promoting national reconciliation” in the United States

Pope Francis on Sunday urged US authorities to “promote national reconciliation and protect democratic values” in the country, following the incidents last Wednesday, in which supporters of President Donald Trump took over Capitol Hill and took over. Joe Biden’s certification of victory.

“I address an affectionate greeting to the people of the United States of America, struck by the recent seat of Congress,” said the Pope after praying to the Angela this Sunday in the Vatican.

“I pray for all who lost their lives, five, in this dramatic moment. I repeat that violence is self-destructive, always, nothing is gained with violence, and so much is lost ”, added Jorge Bergoglio.

“I urge the state authorities and the general population to maintain a high sense of responsibility to calm the spirits promote national reconciliation and protect democratic values based in American society, ”the pontiff later demanded.

In this context, he wished “that the Immaculate Virgin, Patroness of the United States of America, help to keep alive the culture of encounter and the culture of care as a masterful means of building together the common good, with all those who inhabit this land ”. .

The declarations of this Sunday add to the words of Francisco known on Saturday, when he called for an end to the violence and maintained that in order to understand and not repeat the violent actions, one must “learn from history”.

The pontiff said he was surprised by the events that unfolded on the Capitol on Wednesday as MPs and senators prepared to approve Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential elections and were forced to suspend the session when the campus was invaded by Trumpist protesters.

“I was surprised because they are such disciplined people in a democracy”Francisco commented in a preview released on Saturday of an interview with Channel 5.

However, the Pope admitted that even “in the most mature realities, there is always something that is not working”.

“Violence is certainly reprehensible”, Francisco continued, “no one can boast of not having had one day, a case of violence”.