Pope Leo says, May Martyrs’ Blood in Congo Become Seed of Peace and Reconciliation

Vatican City, July 28, 2025: Pope Leo has expressed profound sorrow and spiritual solidarity with the victims of a deadly attack on a Catholic church in Komanda, in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The brutal assault claimed the lives of nearly 40 people during a prayer vigil on Sunday.

“May the blood of these martyrs become a seed of peace, reconciliation, fraternity, and love for the Congolese people,” the Pope said in a heartfelt message following the massacre at the Parish of Blessed Anuarite.

According to Congolese authorities, the attack was carried out by the Allied Democratic Force (ADF), a militant group linked to the Islamic State. The assailants stormed the church in eastern Congo and opened fire on worshippers, killing at least 38 people, including women and children. An additional five people were killed in a nearby village.

In a telegram addressed to Archbishop Marcel Utembi Tapa, President of the Congolese Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Pietro Parolin conveyed the Pope’s grief. “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV learned with dismay and deep sorrow of the attack perpetrated against the Parish of Blessed Anuarite in Komanda, which caused the death of several faithful gathered for worship,” the telegram read.

Cardinal Parolin stressed that this tragic event underscores the urgent need to work toward the integral human development of the region’s long-suffering population.

The Pope also extended his Apostolic Blessing to the Parish of Blessed Anuarite, to the grieving families, the faithful of the DRC, and the entire nation, offering comfort amid their anguish.

The ADF, originally rooted in Uganda during the 1990s, emerged following the overthrow of dictator Idi Amin. Formed by a coalition of groups discontented with the new Ugandan government under President Yoweri Museveni, which they perceived as anti-Muslim, the ADF has since transformed into a formidable militant organisation.

Now displaced from Ugandan territory, the ADF operates primarily in the border regions between Uganda and the DRC. The group frequently targets civilians in remote villages, spreading fear and instability throughout eastern Congo.

The attack in Komanda is one of the deadliest in recent months and highlights the ongoing insecurity in the region. Pope Leo’s message serves as a call for peace and a reminder of the Church’s enduring support for those who suffer in the face of violence and persecution.

Courtesy: Vatican News