Pope Francis prayed for peace in Nicaragua Sunday, calling for dialogue in the Latin American country where over 100 people have been killed amid anti-government protests in recent weeks.
"I am united with my brother bishops in Nicaragua and their grief over violence committed by armed groups," the Argentine pope said to tens of thousands of people attending a traditional prayer in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican.
Protests against President Daniel Ortega began in April over proposed changes to pensions, but have since ballooned into larger calls for his resignation.
"The Church is always in favor of dialogue, but for that it requires an active commitment to respect for freedom and, above all, life," the pope said. "I pray that all the violence will cease so that the conditions for dialogue can be restored as quickly as possible."
Fifteen people were killed and 200 more injured on Wednesday, the country's mother's day - the bloodiest day in Nicaragua since violent protests began over a month ago. Gunmen shot into crowds of thousands in the city of Masaya during a march led by the mothers of victims of recent protests.
