Pope Leo XIV has condemned the recent massacre in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), emphasizing the rising violence against Christians in the region. His statement on social media followed an attack by militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist group linked to the Islamic State, on a church-run hospital in the village of Byambwe. The assault resulted in at least 17 deaths, including 11 women and six men. Eyewitness accounts from local administrator Col. Alain Kiwewa described horrific scenes, including the brutal killings of breastfeeding mothers in their hospital beds. The attackers also looted medical supplies and destroyed numerous nearby homes.
In his statement, Pope Leo XIV highlighted a broader pattern of violence against Christians worldwide, referring to atrocities in countries like Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Sudan. He expressed solidarity with those affected in Kivu and called for an end to the violence, urging believers to collaborate for the common good. The targeted hospital, managed by the Little Sisters of the Presentation, was crucial for maternal care and basic surgical services in an area with limited medical facilities. Disturbingly, reports indicated that several newborns were kidnapped during the assault.
Rev. Giovanni Piumatti, an Italian missionary, criticized the “shameful silence” of the international community, pointing to economic interests in North Kivu’s resource-rich territory as a factor enabling the violence. The Byambwe massacre represents a continuing trend of Islamist violence across Africa, underscoring the Pope’s urgent call for global awareness regarding the persecution of Christians and the need to safeguard vulnerable populations.
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