A young Congolese martyr who was an active member of Sant'Egidio and was murdered in Goma in 2007 was beatified this weekend in Rome.
After Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope took time in the popemobile to meet with the faithful gathered in the Square despite the oppressive heat. It was from the Square that he gave his Sunday blessing, referring in particular to the ongoing conflicts in Nigeria and Sudan.
“It is with joy that I now address all of you, athletes of all ages and origins!” said Leo XIV. He urged them “to engage in sports, even at a competitive level, always with a spirit of generosity, with a ‘playful’ spirit in the noble sense of the word, because in play and healthy entertainment, human beings resemble their Creator.”
Emphasizing that “sport is a path to building peace,” the Pope asked athletes to oppose “all forms of violence and domination” in an international context that remains marked by numerous wars.
“In Myanmar, despite the ceasefire, fighting continues, also causing damage to civilian infrastructure,” lamented Leo XIV, urging “all parties to take the path of inclusive dialogue, the only one capable of leading to a peaceful and stable solution.”
Massacre in Nigeria
The Pope also mentioned the “terrible massacre” that took place on the night of June 13-14 in the town of Yelwata, Nigeria.
“About 200 people were killed with extreme cruelty, most of them internally displaced persons sheltered by the local Catholic mission,” the Pope said, highlighting an event that received little attention in the international media.
“I pray that security, justice, and peace may prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country so severely afflicted by various forms of violence,” he said, assuring his prayers “especially for the rural Christian communities in Benue State, which have been continually victims of violence.”
As prior general of the Augustinians, the future pope visited Nigeria many times and is therefore familiar with the situation in this large West African country.
Civil war in Sudan
Pope Leo also expressed his compassion for “the Republic of Sudan, devastated by violence for more than two years.” He said he had received “the sad news of the death of Father Luke Jumu, parish priest of El Fasher, who was killed in a bombing.”
“While assuring my prayers for him and for all the victims, I renew my appeal to the combatants to cease hostilities, protect civilians, and engage in dialogue for peace,” he said, calling on the international community to mobilize to provide humanitarian aid to the population.
According to the World Food Programme, the famine caused by the civil war that has been raging since April 15, 2023, has reached certain neighborhoods of the capital Khartoum, where some residents are dying of starvation.
Nearly 25 million people are at risk of starvation in this country -- half of the total population. This is currently the most serious humanitarian crisis in the world.
Beatification of a martyr from the DRC
The Pope also mentioned the beatification on Sunday in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls of Floribert Bwana Chui, a young Congolese martyr who was an active member of Sant'Egidio and was murdered in Goma in 2007.
“He was killed at the age of 26 because, as a Christian, he opposed injustice and defended the little ones and the poor,” recalled Leo XIV, hoping that “his testimony will give courage and hope to the young people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and of all Africa.”
Many faithful from the DRC were present in the Square, and the Pope will receive them in audience on Monday.
“Let us continue to pray for peace in the Middle East, in Ukraine, and throughout the world,” Pope Leo added, without specifically mentioning the war between Israel and Iran, which he mentioned on Saturday.
