Pope Francis said he was “stunned” by the violence that took place on Wednesday in the Washington Chapter, in an interview with the Italian television channel Canale 5.
“I was amazed because they are such a disciplined people in a democracy,” he said in the interview, which is due to air on Sunday night, but some excerpts were released on Saturday.
Even in “the most evolved environments there is always something that does not work”, there are people “who take a path against the community, against democracy, against the common good”, he commented.
“This movement must be condemned,” said the Argentine pontiff, adding that it is necessary to “understand well so as not to repeat itself and learn from history.”
Capitol flags were raised at half-mast after the death of a police officer injured during clashes with pro-Trump protesters.
The total balance of Wednesday’s violence in Washington was five dead.