(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 1 - Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned
the massacres and rapes in the east of the Democratic Republic
of Congo over recent decades, telling present victims and their
absent perpetrators "may God have mercy on us all".
In the name of God, "I condemn the armed violence, massacres,
rapes, destruction and occupation of villages, plundering of
fields and livestock that continue to be perpetrated in the
Democratic Republic of Congo", the Pope said this while meeting
the victims in the east of the country.
"I turn to the Father who is in heaven" and "humbly lower my
head and, with sorrow in my heart, I ask his forgiveness for the
violence of man on man. Father, have mercy on us.
"Console the victims and those who suffer. Convert the hearts of
those who commit cruel atrocities, which bring infamy upon all
humanity!" (ANSA).
Pope slams DRC massacres, rapes, may God have mercy on us
Convert hearts, Francis tells victims in eastern Congo