Pope Francis called for national reconciliation in the United States on
Wednesday, saying that while racism is intolerable, the street violence
that has broken out is “self-destructive
Wednesday, saying that while racism is intolerable, the street violence
that has broken out is “self-destructive
and self-defeating”. Pope Francis
broke his silence on the tensions in the United States, which has seen
eight nights of protests over the death of a black man in police
custody, by dedicating the entire English-language section of his weekly
audience to the turmoil there.
He called the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old
African-American who died after a white policeman pinned his neck under a
knee for nearly nine minutes, “tragic”.
African-American who died after a white policeman pinned his neck under a
knee for nearly nine minutes, “tragic”.
Francis said he was praying for all who died as a result of the “sin of racism”, including Floyd.
“My friends, we cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to
racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness
of every human life,” Francis said.
racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness
of every human life,” Francis said.
“At the same time, we have to recognise that the
violence of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating.
Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost,” he said.
violence of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating.
Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost,” he said.
Francis asked Americans to implore God for “the national reconciliation and peace for which we yearn”.
U.S. President Donald Trump came under fire from
Christian leaders who criticised him for using religious symbols as a
backdrop for staged photo opportunities.
Christian leaders who criticised him for using religious symbols as a
backdrop for staged photo opportunities.
They condemned the administration’s forceful
displacement of peaceful protesters near the White House on Monday so
Trump could be photographed holding a Bible in front of an Episcopalian
church.
displacement of peaceful protesters near the White House on Monday so
Trump could be photographed holding a Bible in front of an Episcopalian
church.
On Tuesday Catholics protested as Trump rode to a photo opportunity at a shrine dedicated to St. Pope John Paul II.
Washington’s Roman Catholic Archbishop Wilton Gregory
said in a statement that John Paul “certainly would not condone the use
of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, scatter or intimidate them
for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace”.
said in a statement that John Paul “certainly would not condone the use
of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, scatter or intimidate them
for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace”.
Gregory, who is black, criticised the administrators of
John Paul shrine, saying he found it “baffling and reprehensible that
any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused
and manipulated”.
John Paul shrine, saying he found it “baffling and reprehensible that
any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused
and manipulated”.
