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Pope Francis again mentioned the tremendous violence occurring in Democratic Republic of the Congo, saying it is “painful news,” but also noting that many of the victims are actually martyrs.
The Pope spoke of the conflict after praying the midday Angelus on June 16.
Painful news continues to arrive of clashes and massacres in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I appeal to the national leaders and the international community to do everything possible to stop the violence and safeguard the lives of civilians. Among the victims, many are Christians killed in odium fidei. They are martyrs. Their sacrifice is a seed that germinates and bears fruit, and teaches us to bear witness to the Gospel with courage and consistency.
Odium fidei means “in hatred of the faith” and refers to Christians being killed precisely because they are Christians.
After praying the Marian prayer, the Holy Father noted a particular group of Congolese pilgrims in the Square: the group of mothers from the Congolese community of Rome. “These mothers sing well! I would like to hear them sing another time.”
Here’s a backgrounder to better understand the conflict in the region:
