In a message on Sunday, Pope Francis expressed his sadness over the increasing violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where many Christians have lost their lives due to their faith.
During the Sunday Angelus prayer, the 87-year-old pontiff mentioned, “Painful news continues to arrive of clashes and massacres in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
He urged national authorities and international communities to take action to stop the violence and protect the civilians in the region.
Francis noted that a significant number of Christians have been victims of the recent violence, being targeted and killed because of their faith, branding them as “martyrs.”
He added, “Their sacrifice is a seed that germinates and bears fruit and teaches us to bear witness to the Gospel with courage and coherence.”
Since the beginning of June, almost 150 people have lost their lives in the eastern DRC in attacks believed to be carried out by rebels linked to the Islamic State group.
The Allied Democratic Forces group was held responsible by Congolese authorities for an attack in the Beni region that occurred overnight on Wednesday, resulting in the death of 42 individuals, including some who were decapitated.
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