Pontiff also stated that a country has the right to maintain military personnel to ‘defend peace’
This Tuesday (4) he criticized the sending of American forces to, without mentioning the president, and stated that “with violence we do not win”. The Republican ordered a large military deployment in the region in recent weeks, and American forces carried out several attacks against suspected drug trafficking vessels, in which dozens of people died.
In response to a journalist’s question as he left his secondary residence in Castel Gandolfo, Leo XIV stated that a country has the right to maintain military personnel to “defend peace”.
“But in this case it looks a little different. It increases tensions,” said the 70-year-old pope, referring to reports of American vessels “increasingly closer to the coast of the United States.” Pontiff added that “we do not win with violence. What we need to do is seek dialogue.”
Trump stated that he does not plan attacks against Venezuela, where the president, accused of crimes related to drug trafficking, claims that the Republican wants to impose a “regime change” to take over Venezuelan oil.
The pope, born in, was also asked about immigrants detained in his hometown, one of the main targets of Trump’s campaign against immigration. “Jesus says very clearly that, at the end of the world, we will be asked how we received the stranger, whether we welcomed him and welcomed him or not,” said the pontiff.
“I think we need to reflect deeply on what is happening. Many people who lived for years and years without ever causing problems have been deeply affected by what is happening now,” he noted. In September, Leo XIV, a former missionary in Peru, had already criticized what he classified as “inhumane treatment” given to immigrants in the United States.
*With information from AFP
Published by Nátaly Tenório
