Pope Francis made an impassioned plea on Sunday, partly in Spanish, for an end to the escalating violence in Peru over demands for the resignation of the country’s president.
Addressing some 15,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly appearance in a window of the Apostolic Palace, Francis said: «I invite you (a) to pray that the acts of violence in Peru cease.»
«Violence extinguishes the hope of a just solution to problems,» the pontiff said. «I encourage all parties involved to embark on the path of dialogue between brothers of the same nation, in full respect for human rights and the rule of law.»
Noting that he was joining a call from the Peruvian bishops, Francis switched from speaking Italian to Spanish to exclaim: “No to violence, wherever it comes from! No more deaths!».
Francisco, who is a native of Argentina, noted that Peruvians were among the faithful in the square on Sunday.
Until recently, the protests that have increasingly engulfed Peru have been concentrated in the south of the country. They began last month after then-President Pedro Castillo, Peru’s first leader with a rural Andean background, was indicted and jailed for trying to dissolve Congress.
The protesters are demanding the resignation of Dina Boluarte, the former vice president who took office on December 7 to replace Castillo. They also want Congress dissolved and new elections held. Castillo is currently in custody on charges of rebellion.
More than 55 people have been killed in the ensuing riots.