Pope Leo said he was closely following events after the US removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power.

In his address at St. Peter’s Square, Leo, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, urged respect for human rights and the rule of law, as set out in Venezuela’s constitution. He said violence must end and that efforts should focus on justice and peace while protecting the country’s sovereignty. 

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the US would take control of Venezuela after ordering a military operation to capture Maduro. Maduro is now being held at a detention centre in New York, where he is awaiting drug-related charges.