Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the Capitol Hill siege and urged the public to remain calm in the wake of an attack on the nation’s capital that left five dead.
The comments, delivered during traditional Sunday afternoon remarks from the Vatican, were echoed in a tweet from the pope’s official Twitter account.
“I am praying for the United States of America, shaken by the recent attack on Congress. I pray for those who lost their life,” he wrote. “Violence is always self-destructive. I urge everyone to promote a culture of encounter and of care to construct the common good.”
I am praying for the United States of America, shaken by the recent attack on Congress. I pray for those who lost their life. Violence is always self-destructive. I urge everyone to promote a culture of encounter and of care to construct the common good.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 10, 2021
The pope’s remarks echo sentiments from an international community shocked by the outbreak of violence on American soil last Wednesday. British lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, who is chairman of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, was dismayed by the chaotic scene unfolding on Capitol Hill.
“The US Republic has inspired millions. Not today,” he tweeted. “Today many will watch the screens fearful of the power of demagogues who claim to speak for the powerless but tear apart the laws that constrain the strong and protect the weak. The actions of [Trump] threaten us all.”
Tugendhat’s outrage was shared by Philippines Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who noted the “irony of all ironies” as Congress was placed under lockdown. “Democracy is put to shame in the world’s greatest democracy,”
The global reaction comes as American leaders scramble to heal a nation polarized by the outbreak of politically-charged violence. Among those calling for unity is President Trump, who acknowledged the divided state of the country in recorded video remarks.
“2020 has been a challenging time for our people,” he said. “This moment calls for healing.”
Trump’s departure from the presidency has been a source of further division among America’s political class. While many Republicans have argued that forcing Trump from office would only serve to deepen simmering malcontent, most Democrats and some members of the GOP have called for an early exit via either impeachment or the invocation of the 25th Amendment of the Constitution.
