Annadu Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Ethore Balestrero gave an interview to the Vatican news agency about the violent environment in the Republic of Congo.
Joey Kariveli, Vatican City
Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, the Apostolic Nuncio of that country, expressed his concern over the continuing killings and attacks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He was responding in an interview granted to the Vatican news agency in the context of an explosion in a Pentecostal church in Kivu province in the northeastern part of the border with Uganda on Sunday, the 15th of Annadu, where Pope Francis is visiting, 17 people lost their lives and 40 others were injured.
Archbishop Balestrero said that these attacks confirm that the atmosphere is becoming complicated. He added that peace in the eastern region is far from over and the situation is not improving but getting worse. Archbishop Balestrero revealed that the Church is active in conflict-affected areas and is providing food, clothing and medical aid to the people.
When asked about the preparations for the Pope’s pastoral visit to Congo from January 31-February 3, he said that there is an ecumenical cooperation in this preparation and many people think that this pastoral visit will be a dream come true and they are waiting for the comforting words of the Pope.
