Pope Leo calls for end to violence in Democratic Republic of Congo

Vatican News

Pope Leo has expressed his "deep concern" over the renewed fighting in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Speaking at the conclusion of the Sunday Angelus in Saint Peter's Square, the Pope expressed his closeness to the people and urged the parties involved in the conflict to "cease all forms of violence and to seek constructive dialogue, respecting the ongoing peace process."

In Uvira, a strategic city in eastern Congo, regional officials reported a new deadly offensive that killed over 400 people and displaced around another 200,000 - just days after the city fell into the hands of the M23 group, supported by Rwanda. This occurred despite the recent peace agreement brokered by the United States.

Newly beatified martyrs

The Pope also spoke about two beatifications that took place the preceding day in Spain and in France. In Jaén, Spain, Father Emanuele Izquierdo and fifty-eight companions were beatified, together with Father Antonio Montañés Chiquero and sixty-four companions. The Holy Father recalled how all of them were killed in hatred of the faith during the religious persecution from 1936-38. 

Pope Leo then mentioned Fr. Raymond Cayré, Gérard-Martin Cendrier of the Order of Friars Minor, seminarian Roger Vallé, layman Jean Mestre, and forty-six companions who were beatified in Paris on 13 December. They also were killed in hatred of the faith in 1944-45 during the Nazi occupation. The Pope invited everyone to give praise to the Lord for these martyrs, "courageous witnesses to the Gospel, persecuted and killed for remaining close to their people and faithful to the Church."