Pope Francis denounced the 'poison of greed' for mineral resources driving conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo as he began a visit there on Tuesday, saying the rich world could no longer ignore the tragic plight of many African nations.
Pope Francis looks down as he stands next to Democratic Republic of the Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi during the first day of his apostolic journey in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, January 31 2023.Pope Francis denounced the"poison of greed" for mineral resources driving conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as he began a visit there on Tuesday, saying the rich world could no longer ignore the tragic plight of many African nations.
But the mood changed when the pope gave a speech to dignitaries at the presidential palace, condemning"terrible forms of exploitation, unworthy of humanity" in Congo, where vast mineral wealth has fuelled war, displacement and hunger. Congo has some of the world's richest deposits of diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, tin, tantalum and lithium, but those have stoked conflict between militias, government troops and foreign invaders. Mining has also been linked to inhumane exploitation of workers, including children, and environmental degradation.
The pope criticised rich countries for closing their eyes and ears to the tragedies unfolding in Congo and elsewhere in Africa. In an apparent reference to the M23 and other militias active in the Congo's eastern regions, the pope said Congolese people were fighting to preserve their territorial integrity"against deplorable attempts to fragment the country".
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