Pope Francis called El Paso bishop after prayerful demonstration

CNA Staff, Jun 4, 2020 / 03:40 am (CNA).- Pope Francis on Wednesday called Bishop Mark Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso, Texas, after the bishop joined a demonstration against racial discrimination to pray for George Floyd. 

Seitz told local news website El Paso Matters that he received the two- to three-minute call from Pope Francis on the morning of June 3.

They spoke in Spanish, Seitz said, noting that Francis “said he wanted to congratulate me.”

“I expressed to the Holy Father that I felt it was imperative to show our solidarity to those who are suffering,” the bishop added.

Floyd was killed May 25 during an arrest by Minneapolis police. He was arrested for attempting to use a counterfeit $20 bill. Footage of the incident circulated widely on the internet. It showed Floyd subdued and laying on his stomach, saying repeatedly, “I cannot breathe,” and groaning as a police officer knelt on his neck for almost eight minutes, while other officers stood nearby and watched.

Floyd was taken to a local hospital, where he died. His death has spurred widespread protests, which were followed by looting and riots in numerous cities. 

 

The first Catholic bishop to do so, @BishopSeitz, surrounded by his #ElPaso clergy, takes a knee to lead #nineminutes of silence to remember #GeorgeFloyd and pray for peace and justice. ? #BlackLivesMatter #ICantBreathe pic.twitter.com/x8da0fhIft

— HopeBorderInstitute (@HopeBorder) June 2, 2020

 

Seitz was the first U.S. Catholic bishop to join the protests and demonstrations against racial injustice and police brutality which spread across the country after Floyd’s death.

Along with a group of priests of his diocese, Seitz knelt for nine minutes of silent prayer in memory of Floyd June 1. The bishop held a sign reading “Black Lives Matter.”  

The same day Pope Francis phoned Bishop Seitz, he also made a call to Los Angeles Archbishop José Gómez, the president of the U.S. bishops’ conference.

Pope Francis called Gómez on Wednesday, June 3 to convey his prayers and solidarity for Americans during the period of national unrest.

“The Holy Father said he was praying, especially for Archbishop Bernard Hebda and the local Church in Minneapolis-St. Paul,” Gómez wrote in a June 3 letter to bishops obtained by CNA.

“He thanked the bishops for the pastoral tone of the Church’s response to the demonstrations across the country in our statements and actions since the death of George Floyd. He assured us of his continued prayers and closeness in the days and weeks ahead,” Gómez added.

Wednesday morning Pope Francis addressed U.S. Catholics via livestream during his weekly general audience. 

The pope said he was praying for the soul of George Floyd and for all victims of racism. He also said nothing was gained by violence.

“Let us pray for the comfort of families and friends who are heartbroken, and pray for national reconciliation and the peace we yearn for,” he said.


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


3 Comments

  1. I guess the 3 black cops and the 1 black retired police captain who were murdered by the “Black Lives Matter” mob don’t deserve the prayers, or even the acknowledgment of Pope Francis and the bishops. Obviously, only George Floyd is found worthy of their attention. So very, very wrong.

2 Trackbacks / Pingbacks

  1. The Long March through American institutions continues – Catholic World Report
  2. LA LARGA MARCHA DE LA IZQUIERDA A TRAVÉS DE LAS INSTITUCIONES ESTADOUNIDENSES - La Abeja

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

All comments posted at Catholic World Report are moderated. While vigorous debate is welcome and encouraged, please note that in the interest of maintaining a civilized and helpful level of discussion, comments containing obscene language or personal attacks—or those that are deemed by the editors to be needlessly combative or inflammatory—will not be published. Thank you.


*