Sunday, Pope Francis called on leaders of the United States and the American people to 'maintain a high sense of responsibility' in the wake of the violence at the headquarters of Congress in Washington.

The Pope said in his sermon after the evangelism prayer, which was broadcast via video in light of the pandemic, “I urge the (American) state authorities and all residents to maintain a high sense of responsibility in order to calm souls, promote national reconciliation and protect Democratic values rooted in American society."

He added, "I send my cordial greetings to the people of the United States of America, who were shaken by the recent blockade of Congress (...) I pray for those who lost their lives - five people - who lost them in those tragic moments," according to what was reported by the Arabic-speaking Vatican news site.

He stressed that "violence always destroys the self."

In an interview with Italian Channel 5, Pope Francis expressed his astonishment at what happened "as Americans are a people that respect the rules of democracy."

In this interview, which is scheduled to be broadcast in full Sunday evening, he indicated that what happened should be "condemned" and "understood well in order to avoid its repetition and take lessons from history."