Pope Francis spoke on Monday of the "political crises" on the American continent, sources of "tension and violence", referring in particular to Brazil, where supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro invaded places of power on Sunday.

“I am thinking of the various political crises in several countries on the American continent, with their share of tensions and forms of violence sharpening social conflicts,” he said during his vows to the diplomatic corps at the Vatican.

"I am thinking particularly of what happened recently in Peru and in recent hours in Brazil," he said. This allusion to the situation in Brazil did not appear in the original version of his speech communicated to the journalists.

The pope also noted, “in many regions, signs of weakening of democracy due to growing political and social polarizations, which do not help to solve the urgent problems of citizens”.

After several hours of chaos reminiscent of the invasion of the Capitol in Washington two years ago following the electoral defeat of former US President Donald Trump, Brazilian law enforcement has regained control of the presidential palace , Congress and the Supreme Court invaded Sunday by hundreds of opponents of the new head of state Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The situation also remains unstable in Peru where, a month after the start of President Dina Boluarte's mandate, demonstrations calling for her resignation have claimed 22 lives.