Vatican City (EFE).- Pope Francis today publicly called for the cessation of violence in Peru, after weeks of protests over the political crisis, and asked the authorities to undertake “the path of dialogue” in full respect of Human Rights
“I join the Peruvian bishops in saying” No to violence, wherever it comes from, no more deaths,” requested the pontiff after the Sunday Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace.
Protests have rocked Peru since December to demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte and have already left 62 dead.
Francis, before the faithful who listened to him from Saint Peter’s Square, including some Peruvians in Rome, asked to pray “for the acts of violence to cease” in the Andean country, which he visited on an apostolic trip in January 2018.
«Violence snuffs out the hope of a just solution to the problems. I encourage all the parties involved to take the path of dialogue between brothers in the same nation in full respect for Human Rights and the rule of law,” the pontiff urged.
The demonstrations began on December 7, when Dina Boluarte assumed the Presidency of Peru by constitutional succession after the failed self-coup by Pedro Castillo (2021-2022).
After a Christmas truce, the protests gained strength again from January 4, especially in the south.
The demonstrations have reached the capital, Lima, and the National Police (PNP) broke into the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM) this Saturday to evict hundreds of protesters who came from all over Peru to participate in the anti-government protests and who were camping inside.