– Catholic Herald, Rome – Pope Francis told Italy’s Tg5 he was “shocked” (It. stupito — literally: “stupefied”, “astonished”, “stunned”) by the violent unrest in and around the US Capitol earlier this week. “I was shocked,” said Pope Francis, “because this is a people so disciplined in democracy.”
“A movement like this is to be condemned,” Pope Francis said, “quite apart from the people.”
“Even in the most mature realities,” Pope Francis went on to say, “there’s something that isn’t right — something that causes people to take to the streets against the community, against democracy, against the common good.”
“I thank God that this came to the surface,”(It. scoppiato – “broke out”)” as it did, he said, “because in this way you can find a remedy, no?”
“Violence is always thus, isn’t it?” Pope Francis said. “No people can vaunt itself for never having had, one day [or another], a case of violence — it happens, in history — but we must understand well, in order that it not happen again.”
Pope Francis made the remarks to Mediaset Tg5 journalist Fabio Marchese Ragona, in an interview that will air in its entirety on Sunday evening at 20:40 CET on the Italian network, ahead of a film titled Call me Francis: The pope of the people.
Tg5 published excerpts in a press release, and a video trailer appeared on the TgCom24 website.
Having been unable to sell in churches for well over a year due to the pandemic, we are now inviting readers to support the Herald by investing in our future. We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values.
Please join us on our 130 year mission by supporting us. We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching. For more information from our chairman on contributing to the Herald Patron's Fund, click here
Make a Donation
Processing ...
Donors giving £500 or more will automatically become sponsor patrons of the Herald. This includes two complimentary print/digital gift subscriptions, invitations to Patron events, pilgrimages and dinners, and 6 gift subscriptions sent to priests, seminaries, Catholic schools, religious care homes and prison and university chaplaincies. Click here for more information on becoming a Patron Sponsor. Click here for more information about contributing to the Herald Patron's Fund