Pope Francis on Thursday urged tens of thousands of young people in the Democratic Republic of Congo to work towards a better future and shun corruption in the deeply Catholic country, which is plagued by violence in its east.
KINSHASA, DR Congo —
Young people started to flock to the 80,000-capacity stadium overnight. On Thursday, organisers put the size of the crowd at 65,000, on the third day of the Argentine’s visit to Africa’s biggest Catholic country. “You are part of a greater history, one that calls you to take an active role as a builder of communion, a champion of fraternity, an indomitable dreamer of a more united world,” he said.The pope also asked the crowd to chant “no to corruption” after him. Some of the youngsters chanted slogans hostile to Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi.Francis later on Thursday met Congolese Prime Minister Sama Lukonde at the Apostolic Nunciature in Kinshasa, the Holy See’s diplomatic delegation.
On Wednesday, the pope hosted a mass at Kinshasa’s airport that organisers said drew about a million people, some of whom had camped out all night to get a spot. On Tuesday, the pope — speaking before an audience of Congolese politicians and other dignitaries — said the DRC had been hamstrung by a long history of exploitation.“As a result, this country, massively plundered, has not benefited adequately from its immense resources.”On Friday morning, Francis will address Congolese bishops in Kinshasa before boarding a plane for South Sudan, where he will stay for three days.
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