DRC: the remains of Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo expected in Kinshasa
Laurent Monsengwo shortly after his appointment to the rank of cardinal, in November 2010. VINCENZO PINTO / AFP
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4 min
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the plane from Paris carrying the remains of Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo is expected in the afternoon of Sunday, July 18, at Kinshasa airport.
The former archbishop of the capital of the DRC passed away on July 11, at the age of 81, in Versailles, near the French capital.
He will have devoted a large part of his life to fighting for democracy.
At Ndjili International Airport, some personalities have started to arrive and others are expected to welcome the remains of the late prelate.
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With our special correspondent in Kinshasa
,
Sonia Rolley
Many personalities are expected, such as the Prime Minister, ministers, presidents of the two chambers and then of course representatives of the churches. Deputies are already there - all political stripes - even the deputy rapporteur of the Assembly, Colette Tshomba, who recounted the differences between her camp, that of Joseph Kabila, and Cardinal Monsengwo who has always been critical of the regimes in place. “It
was not always understood. People suspected him of wanting to be in politics,
”she explained.
#RDC #Monsengwo: the presidents of the two chambers arrive together.
“He was severe (with the political class).
We are severe qd we want good.
It is the attitude of being a good parent.
We ourselves have changed following his advice.
He didn't give up on anyone, ”says @CMbosoNkodia
- Sonia Rolley (@soniarolley) July 18, 2021
The emotion was already there this morning… There were the priests of the archdiocese of Kinshasa who spoke of the cardinal's commitment to improving the living conditions of the population.
"
He was the first to criticize the results of the 2006 elections and since then he has not stopped speaking out against injustice,
" one of them fervently reports.
There were also students who benefited from the Laurent Monsengwo scholarship.
"
Thanks to him, this country has been doctors, lawyers, architects and even journalists, like me,
" explains one of them, her throat tight.
All praise the good father, hard, demanding but understanding in the face of the difficulties of life.
This was also told by one of her little nieces, a future surgeon.
She remembers being unhappy with her baccalaureate results.
The cardinal insisted on the importance of what was in his head and his heart.
#RDC #Monsengwo: “the cardinal has done a lot to keep the country united.
He made a lot of shuttles between Kinshasa and Gbadolite.
He had more than one trick up his sleeves.
He did everything to get the political class to come together to speak.
», Says @PLukwebo
- Sonia Rolley (@soniarolley) July 18, 2021
Read also: DRC: unanimous tributes after the death of Cardinal Monsengwo
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