Pope: We cannot tolerate racism while claiming to defend human life

Source: Vatican News

At the General Audience today, held in the library of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis expressed his concern about the protests in the United States following the killing of George Floyd by a police officer.

During his catechesis on prayer reflected on Abraham, whose trust in God makes him an important example to all three Abrahamic faiths. The Pope called the faithful to build a familiarity with God as son does with his father. "Let us learn to pray with faith, to discuss to argue but always to be willing to receive God's word and put it into practice. "Even getting angry with God sometimes can be turned into prayer" he said, "if openness to His word remains."

In his greetings to the English-speaking faithful, Pope Francis addressed the people of the United States, saying: "I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the tragic death of Mr George Floyd. 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."

The Pope then cited a recent statement from Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), to denounce outcroppings of violence at some protests.

"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'."

Pope Francis added that today he joins the Church in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and throughout the entire US, "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."

The Pope concluded his remarks with an invitation to prayer.

"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. "May Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of America, intercede for all those who work for peace and justice in your land and throughout the world."