Pope Francis on Thursday sent his condolences to Haiti and expressed his sadness at the “odious” assassination of President Jovenel Moïse – as he condemned “all forms of violence,” the Vatican said.
Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the pontiff — who is recovering at a Rome hospital from intestinal surgery — offered his condolences to the Haitian people and Moïse’s widow, who was critically injured in the attack.
“The Holy Father expresses his sadness and condemns all forms of violence as a means of resolving crises and conflicts,” Parolin said in a statement issued in French and in Spanish.
“He wishes for the dear people of Haiti a future of fraternal harmony, of solidarity and prosperity,” he added.
First lady Martine Moïse, 47, was airlifted to Florida to be treated for several gunshot wounds. She was taken to Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital, Local 10 News reported.
Authorities said that during the gun battle, police killed four suspects, detained two others and freed three officers being held hostage.
Prime Minister Claude Joseph assumed leadership of the impoverished Caribbean nation and decreed a two-week state of siege following the assassination.
In January 2018, Moïse met with Francis and Vatican officials for talks on social problems afflicting the country of about 11 million people, “especially regarding young people, the poor and the most vulnerable,” the Holy See said at the time.
In 2015, Francis convened a special conference to mark the fifth anniversary of the devastating earthquake that killed more than 100,000 people in Haiti.
With Post wires
