Haiti: Pope denounces "grave massacre" and calls for release of hostages
Agência ECCLESIA30 August 2026 at 11:41
Pope Leo XIV today denounced the "grave massacre" caused by a gang attack on the night of August 23-24 in Haiti, which left dozens dead and kidnapped. The Pope made this statement after reciting the Angelus in Freedom Square, next to the pontifical residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, expressing his prayerful closeness to the victims and their families.
The gangs launched an attack against the commune of Kenscoff, in the hills overlooking the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, which caused around 50 deaths, including five children. The Pope launched a "vehement appeal to all those responsible to concretely commit to guaranteeing the security of the population and putting an end to all forms of violence," also calling for the immediate release of all hostages.
This Saturday, 13 of the 60 hostages, including three babies, were released after nearly a week in captivity. Violence in Haiti has already caused more than 1,400 dead in the second quarter of the year. On Friday, the UN had called for a "rapid and complete deployment" of security agents for the international mission to combat gangs in Haiti, after the recent massacre in the country.
Ataque de gangues na noite de 23 para 24 de agosto fez dezenas de mortos e de sequestrados
Foto: Lusa/EPA
Castel Gandolfo, Itália, 30 ago 2026 (Ecclesia) – O Papa denunciou hoje o “grave massacre” provocado por um ataque de gangues na noite de 23 para 24 de agosto, no Haiti, que fez dezenas de mortos e de sequestrados.
“Do Haiti chegam notícias dramáticas do grave massacre perpetrado em Kenscoff, no qual perderam a vida numerosas pessoas, enquanto outras foram sequestradas. Exprimo a minha proximidade orante às vítimas e aos seus familiares e peço que sejam libertados sem demora todos os reféns”, disse Leão XIV, após a recitação do ângelus na Praça da Liberdade, junto à residência pontifícia de Castel Gandolfo.
A intervenção lançou um “veemente apelo a todos os responsáveis para que se empenhem concretamente em garantir a segurança da população e pôr fim a toda a forma de violência”.
Esta sexta-feira, a ONU pediu um “destacamento rápido e completo” de agentes de segurança para a missão internacional de combate aos gangues no Haiti, após o recente massacre no país.
Este sábado, 13 dos 60 reféns, incluindo três bebés, foram libertados após quase uma semana de cativeiro, numa altura em que a violência no Haiti já provocou mais de 1400 mortos no segundo trimestre do ano.
Os gangues lançaram um ataque contra a comuna de Kenscoff, nas colinas com vista para a capital haitiana, Porto-Príncipe, que provocou cerca de 50 mortes, incluindo a de cinco crianças.
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