Reportage

DRC: Pope Francis meets victims of violence in the East

Audio 01:27

This photo taken and published on February 1, 2023 by Vatican media shows Pope Francis meeting with victims of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the Apostolic Nunciature in Kinshasa.

AFP - SIMONE RISOLUTI

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

On the second day of his visit to the DRC, the pope celebrated a mass in front of around a million people, according to official figures, before meeting the victims of the violence in the eastern part of the DRC.

Delegations came from the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri to meet the sovereign pontiff.

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,

Patient Ligodi

Rape, mutilation, murder... sad, barely believable stories.

Scenes of horror told to the pope by children and women.

Like the story of this young girl from the territory of Beni.

After losing her loved ones, she forgives:

“

I am Léonie Matumaini from Mbau primary school.

I place in front of the Cross of Christ the Victor the knife identical to the one that killed all the members of my family in my presence

”. 

Fiston also comes from the same region.

After telling his story to Pope Francis, he too decides to forgive.

“

I am Kambaka Fiston, I am 13 years old.

I am a pupil of the Tshiamboko primary school.

I forgive the executioners who kidnapped me for 9 months.

It is up to Christ the Victor to touch the hearts of the executioners so that they free the other children who are still in the bush

”.

Pope Francis meets with victims of the conflict in the east of the country, at the Apostolic Nunciature, during his apostolic trip, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, February 1, 2023. via REUTERS - VATICAN MEDIA

Father Ngabu Didja, coordinator of the diocesan justice and peace commission of Bunia, in Ituri, is delighted with the presence of the pope and the exchange between the sovereign pontiff and the victims:

“

It's a spiritual therapy, at the same time, it's a plea for peace.

What is happening in Ituri, we do not understand.

The population complains, the killings continue.

It's still going on

."

For his part, the pope listened and shared his compassion.

He denounced once again “a war unleashed by an insatiable greed for raw materials and money”.

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To read also: 

  • DRC: in Ndolo, more than a million faithful gathered for the great mass of Pope Francis

  • DRC: in Kinshasa, Pope Francis denounces the "economic colonialism" which is "unleashed" in Africa

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