VATICAN CITY — Observing with great concern the social
unrest unfolding in the United States, Pope Francis said no one can claim to
defend the sanctity of every human life while turning a blind eye to racism and
exclusion.
Addressing all "dear brothers and sisters in the United
States” during his livestreamed general audience June 3, the pope said,
"Today I join the church in St. Paul and Minneapolis, and in the entire
United States, in praying for the repose of the soul of George Floyd and of all
those others who have lost their lives as a result of the sin of racism."
"Let us pray for the consolation of their grieving
families and friends and let us implore the national reconciliation and peace
for which we yearn," he said in Italian.
The pope said he has "witnessed with great concern the
disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the
tragic death of Mr. George Floyd," a 46-year-old man, whose last moments
of life were recorded on a widely disseminated video showing a white police
officer in Minneapolis pushing down on his neck with his knee May 25. Floyd was
later pronounced dead.
"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. At the same time, we have to recognize that 'the violence of
recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by
violence and so much is lost,'" he said, quoting Archbishop Jose H. Gomez
of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The pope prayed for the intercession of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, Mother of America, to assist "all those who work for peace and
justice in your land and throughout the world. May God bless all of you and
your families."
Hundreds of thousands of people turned out nationwide to
protest Floyd's death. And many of the country's Catholic bishops joined the
calls for justice.
Four officers from the Minneapolis Police Department were
fired May 26, including Derek Chauvin, with whom Floyd pleaded "Please, I
can't breathe" as he held him down. Chauvin is facing third-degree murder
and second-degree manslaughter charges.