Pope Francis condemns death of George Floyd and 'sin' of racism

Pope Francis called for national reconciliation in the United States during an address in the Vatican and said he was praying for George Floyd.

The pontiff broke his silence on the civil unrest sweeping across the country, which has seen eight nights of protests following Mr Floyd's death in police custody, by dedicating the entire English-language section of his weekly audience to events in the US.

Francis said he was praying for everyone who died as a result of the "sin of racism", with specific reference to Mr Floyd.

"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," Francis said.

"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," he said.

Mr Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, was filmed gasping for air and pleading "I can't breathe" as a white police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.

The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with third degree murder following Mr Floyd's death in Minneapolis on May 25.

Francis asked Americans to implore God for "the national reconciliation and peace for which we yearn".

U.S. President Donald Trump came under fire from Christian leaders who criticised him for using religious symbols as a backdrop for staged photo opportunities.

They condemned the administration's forceful displacement of peaceful protesters near the White House on Monday so Trump could be photographed holding a Bible in front of an Episcopalian church

On Tuesday Catholics protested as Trump rode to a photo opportunity at a shrine dedicated to St. Pope John Paul II.

Washington's Roman Catholic Archbishop Wilton Gregory said in a statement that John Paul "certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, scatter or intimidate them for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace".

Gregory, who is black, criticised the administrators of John Paul shrine, saying he found it "baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated".

Read more

Thousands descend on Hyde Park for George Floyd protest- LIVE