In his address to the authorities, representatives of civil society and the diplomatic corps in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the first days of his apostolic visit, His Holiness Pope Francis encouraged the Congolese to make use of their talents and abilities for a future of peace, reconciliation and prosperity, as they are the most precious good of this country. His Holiness also stopped at the exploitation that this country and Africa are exposed to. This is what the Pope said:
I greet you from the bottom of my heart, and I thank the President for the words he addressed to me. I am happy to be here, in this beautiful, vast, and full of life land, which embraces tropical forests in the north, plateaus and wooded plains in the middle and south, hills and mountains, volcanoes and lakes in the east, and other wonderful bodies of water to the west, where the Congo River meets the ocean. In your country, which resembles a continent on the great African continent, it seems that the whole earth is breathing. The geography of this green lung is very rich and varied, but its history cannot match it in the splendor and splendor of life: the Democratic Republic of the Congo still suffers from war, conflicts within its borders and forced migrations, and it still suffers from horrible forms of exploitation unworthy of man and creation. This vast country full of life, this mirror of Africa, has been struck by violence like a punch in the stomach, and has long been deprived of breath.
As you, the Congolese, struggle to preserve your dignity and the territorial integrity of your country against deplorable attempts to divide your country, I come to you, in the name of Jesus, as a pilgrim of reconciliation and peace. I have longed to be here, and finally here I am with you, bringing you the closeness, affection and consolation of the entire Catholic Church.
I would like to speak to you with an image that well symbolizes the splendor of the light of this earth: the image of a diamond. Dear Congolese men and women, your country is truly a diamond of creation. But you are all infinitely more precious than any good that can be extracted from this fertile land! I am here to embrace you and remind you that you have priceless value, that the Church and the Pope trust you, and believe in your future, and that it will be in your hands, and worthy of pouring into it all your talents, intelligence, wisdom and activity. Take heart, Congolese brother and sister! Arise, take back and hold in your hands, like a pure diamond, what you are, your dignity, and your call to preserve the house in which you live, in harmony and peace. Relive the spirit of your national anthem, dream and turn words into actions: “With hard work, we will build a more beautiful country than before. In peace.”
Dear Friends, Diamonds are usually rare, but here they are plenty. If this statement is true of the material wealth buried in the ground, it is also true of the spiritual wealth that hearts carry. Precisely starting from hearts, peace and development is possible, because human beings, with the help of God, are able to create justice, tolerance, harmony, reconciliation, commitment and perseverance in investing the talents that God has given them. Since the beginning of my journey, I wanted to make this appeal to you: so that every Congolese citizen feels called to do his part! Violence and hatred can no longer have a place in the heart or on the lips of anyone, because they are inhuman and non-Christian feelings that prevent development and take us back to a dark past.
When talking about stopping development and returning to the past, it is a great tragedy that these places, and the African continent in general, suffer from various forms of exploitation. After political colonialism, “economic colonialism” was unleashed, which enslaves man. This country, subject to widespread plunder and plunder, is unable to make adequate use of its vast resources: the paradox has been realized: the fruits of the earth make the land “foreign” to its people. The name of greed is to dye diamonds in blood. It is a tragedy to which the economically developed world closes its eyes, ears and mouth. But this country and this continent deserve respect and to be heard, they deserve to exist, and more attention: hands off the Democratic Republic of the Congo, hands off Africa! Stop suffocating Africa, it is not for exploitation, nor is it a land for ruin and plunder. Let Africa build its own destiny. Let the world remember the disasters that occurred over the centuries at the expense of the local population and not forget this country and this continent. Africa, the world’s smile and hope, has more importance: let it be a subject of more discussion and interest, and let it have greater weight and representation among nations!
Let the diplomacy of man be established for the sake of man, and the diplomacy of the people for the sake of the people, where the focus is not on controlling territories and resources, nor on expansion and increasing profits, but rather on opportunities for growth for all people. When looking at this people, it seems as if the international community has surrendered to the violence that devours them. We cannot get used to the blood that has been shed in this country for decades now, and death has claimed millions of lives, and many in the world do not know. Let the world know what’s going on here. May the ongoing peace processes, which I encourage with all my might, be supported by deeds, and may all keep the commitments made. Praise be to God, there are many people who contribute for the benefit of the local population, and for real development through effective projects: not just interventions for immediate assistance, but plans aimed at integrated growth. I express my great thanks and appreciation to countries and organizations that provide significant assistance in this direction, help fight poverty and disease, uphold the rule of law, and promote respect for human rights. I hope that they will continue to play this noble role fully and courageously.
Let’s go back to the diamond image. When it is filled, its beauty also radiates from its shape, from its many harmonious facets. Likewise, this country, whose pluralism increases splendor and dignity. It has a multifaceted character. It is a wealth that must be preserved and avoided sliding into tribalism and opposition. Persistent siding with the ethnic group or certain interests fuels cycles of hatred and violence, to the detriment of all, because it impedes the “one chemical reaction” between all. Speaking of chemistry, it is interesting that diamond is composed of simple carbon atoms that, if brought together in various ways, form graphite: in practice, the difference between the luster of diamond and the darkness of graphite depends on the way the individual atoms are arranged within the crystal lattice. In addition to this metaphor, the problem is not the nature of people or ethnic and social groups, but rather the way in which they decide to stay together: the will to live together, or vice versa, the will to reconcile, and the insistence on returning to it. This is what makes the difference between the darkness of conflict and the light of a future. Shining with peace and prosperity.
Dear friends, The Heavenly Father wants us to know how to welcome one another as brothers and sisters in one family and to work towards a future that is with others and not against others. “Bintu bantu”: Thus, the proverb reminds, very effectively, that the real wealth is people and the good relations between them. Religions are called upon in a special way, with their heritage of wisdom, to contribute to the daily effort to renounce all aggression, winning followers and coercion, all of which are means unworthy of human freedom. When efforts descend into coercion and self-imposition, gaining followers indiscriminately, by deception or by force, then the conscience of others is destroyed, and we turn our backs on the true God, because “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor 3:17), let us not forget that. In the commitment to building a future of peace and fraternity, members of civil society, some of whom are present here, also play a fundamental role. They have often shown that they know how to confront injustice and decadence, albeit with great sacrifices, in order to defend human rights, the need for solid education for all and a more dignified life for everyone. I sincerely thank the women and men, especially the youth of this country, who have suffered in varying degrees because of this, and I express my appreciation to them.
Diamond, in its transparency, refracts the light it receives in a wonderful way. Many of you also shine in the role you play. All those who assume civil or governmental responsibilities are called to work with crystal transparency, and to live the mission they have received as a means of serving society. Indeed, power acquires its meaning only if it is a service. It is important to work in this spirit, to escape from tyranny, from the search for easy profits and from the greed of money, which the Apostle Paul says is “the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). At the same time, free, transparent and credible elections must be held. The scope of participation in peace processes must be expanded to include women, youth and marginalized groups, and the common good and safety of people should be pursued, rather than personal interests or some groups. And strengthening the presence of the state in every part of its territory, and taking care of the many displaced persons and refugees. No one is allowed to be harnessed or bought by those who want to keep the country in a state of violence, to exploit it and do shameful things: this only leads to disgrace and disgrace, along with death and misery. Instead, it is good to get close to the people, so that the ruler knows how the people live. People trust rulers when they feel really close to them, and they do not rule for their own account or for show, but for service.
What obscures the light of goodness in society is often the darkness of injustice and corruption. Centuries ago, St. Augustine, born on this continent, asked: “If states do not respect justice, they are nothing but great bands of robbers” (De civ. Dei, IV,4). God is on the side of those who are hungry and thirsty for justice (cf. Mt 5, 6). We must never tire of promoting law and fairness in every sector, opposing impunity and manipulation of laws and information.
Diamonds originally originate from the earth, but they are raw materials that need to be processed. Likewise, the most precious diamonds in the land of the Congo, who are the children of this nation, must be able to benefit from sound education and education opportunities that allow them to invest their many talents fully. Education is essential, it is the path to the future, and the path we must take to achieve complete freedom in this country and on the African continent. It is urgent to invest in it, to prepare societies that will not be cohesive unless they are well educated, and will not be independent unless they are fully aware of their potential and capable of developing it with responsibility and perseverance. But many children do not go to school: how many of them, instead of receiving a decent education, are victims of exploitation! Many die as forced labor in the mines. We spare no effort to denounce the scourge of child labor and to put an end to it. How many girls are marginalized and their dignity violated! Children, girls and young people are hope: let us not allow it to be erased, but let us hold on to it and nurture it with passion!
Diamonds are a gift from the Earth, calling for the care of creation and the protection of the environment. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is located in the heart of Africa, it contains the largest green lung in the world, and it must be preserved. As is the case with peace and development, broad and fruitful cooperation is also important in this field, allowing for effective intervention, without imposing external models that benefit those who help more than those who came to help them. Many have asked Africa for commitment and offered help to combat climate change and the coronavirus. These are certainly opportunities that must be seized, but above all there is a need for health and social models that do not only respond to the urgent need now, but also contribute to effective social growth: from solid structures and from competent and honest employees, to overcome the serious problems that impede development in the world, such as hunger and malaria .
Diamond, finally, is the mineral of natural origin and of the highest degree of hardness. And its resistance to chemical agents is very high. The repetition of continuous violent attacks and the many uncomfortable situations could weaken the resistance of the Congolese and undermine their stability, and lead them to frustration and closure in surrender. But, in the name of Christ, God of hope, God of everything possible, who always gives strength to begin anew, in the name of the dignity and value of the most precious diamonds of this wonderful land, whose citizens are, I would like to invite everyone to a courageous and all-inclusive new beginning. This is required by the country’s bright but wounded history. Especially young people and children beg for it. I am with you. With prayer and close to you, I accompany every effort for a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous future for this great country. God bless the entire Congolese nation!