Greed, corruption and appalling poverty are still the order of the day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country of 70 million inhabitants. For decades, a war over natural resources has been raging in this resource-rich country. The Catholic Church also faces vast problems here.
Recently, brutal attacks carried out by the government on Catholic churches and institutions have increased in an attempt to stop the Church’s involvement in supporting the democratic process. There is a great need for humanitarian aid, pastoral care and reconstruction.
The crackdown on Catholicism by President Kabila’s henchmen in Kasai Province is devastating. Churches, bishop’s houses, seminaries, convents and health centres have been looted, destroyed or burnt down. A peaceful demonstration in the state capital on 31 December 2017 under the leadership of the Catholic Church that supported the democracy movement claimed six lives and many were injured. Numerous people were arrested.
» With horror, we are seeing violence, fear and insecurity flare up in many places. «
It is therefore all the more important to assist the Church in this difficult situation and to provide the necessary help.