“I renew my call for all people to commit themselves to avoiding all forms of violence.”
Pope Francis made this appeal at the conclusion of his General Audience of January 24, 2018, in St. Peter’s Square, stressing he was saddened by the ‘troubling’ news coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
For its part, the Pope said, the Church “wants nothing more than to contribute to peace and to the common good of society,” and, for this reason, he appealed that all work to avoid violence.
According to the United Nations on Jan. 23, this weekend, Congolese security forces used excessive force against anti-government protesters and shot at United Nations human rights monitors, claiming at least six lives and injuring some 68 others. Despite calls for peaceful demonstrations for President Joseph Kabila to step down, protests turned violent as police tried to disperse the demonstrators, using teargas and gunfire.
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