“Hands off Africa, it is not a mine to be exploited”
More than a million faithful present at Kinshasain Congo, to start the mass presided over by Pope Francis. First stage of the apostolic journey that on February 3 will also take him to South Sudan.
It’s party time Democratic Republic of Congo. There is joy in the streets. Pope Francis, upon his arrival, receives the warm embrace of the people. Shortly thereafter he will celebrate mass in Kinshasa, in front of over a million people. Thousands already lined up from the early hours of the morning; many have slept on the grass, outside the gates. It is the first stage of the apostolic journey which on February 3 will also take him to South Sudan. The security measures are impressive, even in the light of the attacks on Christians, at the center of an endless spiral of violence in both Congo and Nigeria. On several occasions Pope Francis has spoken of “ecumenism of blood”. Today, in his meeting with the authorities, his thoughts turn to a country tormented by war, conflict and forced migration, and which continues to suffer terrible forms of exploitation, unworthy of man and creation. Francesco launches his cry of alarm, against a forgotten genocide and the economic colonialism: “Hands off Africa, it is not a mine to be exploited”. In his homily he stresses that Christians are called to be “Missionaries of Peace”. “It is a choice: it is making room for everyone in the heart, it is believing that ethnic, regional, social and religious differences come after and are not obstacles; that the others are brothers and sisters, members of the same human community; that everyone is the recipient peace brought to the world by Jesus. It is believing that we Christians are called to collaborate with everyone, to break the cycle of violence, to dismantle the plots of hatred”.