 The opposition became more vocal, bolstered by a visit to the country by Pope John Paul II in 1983, who publicly lambasted the president.Demonstrations occurred in Gonaïves in 1985 which then spread across the country; under pressure from the United States, Duvalier left the country for France in February 1986.In total, roughly 40,000 to 60,000 Haitians are estimated to have been killed during the reign of the Duvaliers.