Pope says Brexit represents the will of the people and calls for responsibility.
Pope Francis said that the referendum that decided on the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union expresses the will of the people and requires great responsibility to guarantee the well-being of the British people; "It was the will expressed by the people, and this requires great responsibility from all of us to guarantee the good of the people of the United Kingdom and also the good and coexistence of the entire European continent. That is what I hope for," he said.
Brazil Agency - Pope Francis said today (24) that the referendum that decided on the United Kingdom leaving the European Union expresses the will of the people and requires great responsibility to guarantee the well-being of the British people.
The referendum was held on Thursday (23) and the result, released in the early hours of this morning (24), shows that, with 52% of the votes in favor, the United Kingdom decides to leave the European Union.
"It was the will expressed by the people, and this requires a great responsibility from all of us to ensure the well-being of the people of the United Kingdom and also the well-being and coexistence of the entire European continent. That is what I hope for," Pope Francis told reporters after being informed, during the flight from Rome to Yerevan (Armenia), about the result of the referendum. Pope Francis traveled to Armenia on Friday for a three-day visit to the Christian country.
The voter turnout in the referendum was 71,8%, the highest in UK voting since 1992. The United Kingdom is the first country to leave the European Union since its creation, but the decision does not mean the country will immediately cease to be a member of the EU. This process can take two years, according to the Treaty of Lisbon.
In a national address, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced his resignation. He is expected to leave office in October. Cameron had always been in favor of the UK remaining in the EU and, in the months leading up to the referendum, stated that Brexit – a combination of the words Britain and exit – could have serious economic consequences for the country.