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CV NEWS FEED // Among the most memorable milestones of Pope Francis’ pontificate was his 2023 journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where more than one million faithful gathered for an outdoor Mass in the nation’s capital.
Pope Francis’ visit marked the first papal trip to DRC in nearly four decades. With close to half of its 95 million citizens identifying as Catholic, the country is home to one of the world’s largest and most active Catholic communities.
For many, the Pope’s presence was a long-awaited moment of encouragement and unity in a nation shaped by decades of violence and political instability. In the hours leading up to the Mass at Ndolo Airport, the faithful filled the grounds with singing and dancing.
“Esengo, joy: to see and encounter you is a great joy,” he told the crowd gathered for the Mass in Kinshasa. “I have very much looked forward to this moment. Thank you for being here!”
In remarks during the Feb. 1 Mass, the Holy Father called for unity across ethnic and regional divides and urged political and religious leaders to pursue the common good.
“And may it be a good time for all of you in this country who call yourselves Christians but engage in violence,” he said during the Mass. “The Lord is telling you: ‘Lay down your arms, embrace mercy.’”
The liturgy incorporated elements of the Zaire Use of the Roman Rite, an inculturated form of the Mass that integrates traditional Congolese music, dance, and languages.
Video footage of the event showed a warm, active celebration — worshippers gently swaying, children dancing, and the congregation singing together. Prayers were offered in French, Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba, and Swahili, reflecting the nation’s linguistic diversity.
In his homily, Pope Francis emphasized the need for peace, reconciliation, and integrity in leadership.
“Brothers, sisters, when guilt and sadness overwhelm us, when things do not go well,” the Pope said, “we know where to look: to the wounds of Jesus, who is ever ready to forgive us with His infinite, wounded love.”
DRC has suffered from chronic violence, including attacks by Islamist militant groups such as the Allied Democratic Forces, which have targeted Christian communities and churches in recent years. Other armed groups, including the M23 rebels, have committed mass killings and war crimes, further deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis.
During his four-day stay in the country, Pope Francis met with survivors of armed conflict from eastern DRC and held private and public meetings with youth, clergy, religious leaders, and aid organizations.
The Pope also addressed broader social concerns during his visit, including poverty, corruption, and the dignity of women.
“We need to believe that we Christians are called to cooperate with everyone, to break the cycle of violence, to dismantle the machinations of hatred,” he said during the Mass. “Yes, Christians, sent by Christ, are called by definition to be a conscience of peace in our world.”
The visit took place in the context of his global “synodal path,” a Church-wide process of listening and discernment launched in 2019.
