During the angelus of February 2, the pope called the faithful gathered in Place Saint-Pierre, in Rome, to pray for peace in North Kivu, while the armed group M23 and the Rwandan army have taken in recent days The control of Goma, a major city in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. “No to war, which destroys everything, destroys life and leads to despise it. Let’s not forget that war is always a defeat ”hammered the pope. “In this jubilee year, I renew the appeal, especially to the rulers of Christian faith, so that a maximum commitment is put in negotiations to end all the in progress conflicts”he continued.
An appeal to the rulers of Christian faith
François had already reacted Wednesday January 29 at the brutal advance of the rebel forces of the M23 in the east of the country, expressing his “Concern in the face of the degradation of the security situation” In RD-Congo.“I urge all the parties to the conflict to commit to ceasing hostilities and protecting the civilian population” Affected areas, he had called, when the clashes had reached civilians, and in particular a maternity, causing the death of newborns and parturient women. He also said he followed “With concern what’s going on (has) Kinshasa, hoping that all forms of violence stop as quickly as possible (…) ».
The country’s capital was the framework of population uprisings, the crowd attacking foreign embassies, targets of fires. The pope had also called “Local authorities and the international community to do everything to resolve the situation of conflict by peaceful means”.
Two years earlier, to the day, from January 31 to February 3, 2023, the Pope had gone to the DR-CONGO to carry a message of peace and reconciliation while the clashes already rumbled. Initially scheduled for July 2022, this trip was to include a stage in Goma, finally canceled. François still wanted to meet victims of the conflict, who had entrusted him with their particularly moving and tragic testimonies.
Cardinal Ambongo, one of the voices calling for peace
Since then, the Pope regularly returns to the situation in this country in Central Africa, the fourth more populated on the continent, in his speeches. On June 16, he deplored “Fighting and massacres” civilians in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, noting among them the presence of “Many Christians killed due to hatred towards their religion” : “These are martyrs. May their sacrifice be a seed that brings fruit and teaches us to testify to the Gospel with courage and coherence ”he pointed out.
Catholics represent 40 to 50 % of the country’s population. At their head, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, archbishop of Kinshasa, is considered the leader of African Catholics. President of the symposium of African episcopal conferences and member of the council of nine cardinals surrounding François, he is one of the votes calling for peace while sometimes criticizing the inaction and the helplessness of the power in his country, to have been the subject of judicial information for “Seditious words”.
(Tagstotranslate) Democratic Republic of Congo