Pope Francis has condemned the “economic colonialism” plaguing the continent as he addressed a crowd of over 1 million people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
When the pontiff touched down in Kinshasa on his five-day African tour, thousands lined the streets to welcome him with flags and cheers.
But when he began to speak at the presidential palace, the noisy revelment quickly turned into a deathly silence.
“For all of you in this country who call yourselves Christians but engage in violence … the Lord is telling you: lay down your arms, embrace mercy,” he said.
The DRC’s massive wealth of natural resources has been the cause of war and widespread exploitation.
It remains one of the world’s poorest nations, which opens the door for it to be plundered and exploited by richer ones.
“Political exploitation gave way to an economic colonialism that was equally enslaving,” the 86-year-old said as he spoke in Italian.
“Hands off the Democratic Republic of the Congo, hands off Africa … It’s not a mine to be stripped or a terrain to be plundered,” he continued.
“It is a tragedy that these lands, and more generally the whole African continent, continue to endure various forms of exploitation.
“The poison of greed has smeared its diamonds with blood.” The illegal trade of diamonds in the DRC is riddled with child labour and has financed several conflicts in recent decades. This bloodshed has in part been fuelled by an overseas demand for the jewels.
In recent years, the country has been ravaged by conflict in its eastern region, where over 100 different insurgencies have terrorised the local populations and refugees from bordering countries.
“One has the impression that the international community has practically resigned itself to the violence devouring it [Congo]. We cannot grow accustomed to the bloodshed that has marked this country for decades, causing millions of deaths,” the pope said.
The historic visit marks the first time since 1985 that the head of the Catholic Church has come to the DRC, which is home to about 45 million Catholics.
Francis will travel to South Sudan, another country ravaged by conflict, on Friday. There he will be joined by the Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the global Anglican communion.
Compiled by Arthur Greene
Pictured above: Pope Francis rides his popemobile through the streets of Kinshasa
Image source: @DrFredMmembe
