On his second day in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pope Francis told Catholics to go beyond ethnic and regional divides in fostering peace, and stressed forgiveness and conversion in overcoming violence and divisions currently tearing apart the country with Africa’s largest Catholic population.
He stressed the need to forgive even those who perpetrate violence, and called those who responsible for the country’s decades-long war to conversion.
Speaking during his Feb. 1 public Mass in Kinshasa, the pope said Christians “are called to be missionaries of peace,” insisting that “it is a decision we have to make.”
“We need to find room in our hearts for everyone; to believe that ethnic, regional, social and religious differences are secondary and not obstacles; that others are our brothers and sisters, members of the same human community; and that the peace brought into the world by Jesus is meant for everyone,” he said.
On his 2nd day in the #DRC, #PopeinCongo told Catholics to go beyond ethnic/regional divides in fostering peace & stressed forgiveness & conversion in overcoming violence & divisions tearing apart the country w Africa’s largest #Catholic population https://t.co/R4ULaov55r
— Elise Ann Allen (@eliseannallen) February 1, 2023