Pope Francis: More than a million people attended Papal Mass in DRC


Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
CNN

Over a million people attended Pope FrancisMass mass in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Wednesday, the Vatican press office said, citing data calculated by local authorities.

Francis’ trip to the DRC – the first visit by a pope since 1985 – comes at a time when the African nation is engulfed in armed clashes and a deepening refugee crisis.

It’s part of a six-day trip to the DRC and South Sudan, two countries where Catholics make up about half of the population and where the church plays a key role in health and education systems, as well as democracy-building efforts. Both countries are rich in natural resources but struggle with poverty and infighting.

Worshipers gather at N'Dolo Airport for Mass led by Pope Francis in Kinshasa in the DRC on Wednesday.

Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass at Ndolo Airport in Kinshasa, DRC on Wednesday.

The CNN team on the ground witnessed the crowd singing and dancing at N’Dolo Airport since the early hours of the morning, waiting for their first sight of the Pope, who toured the airfield in an open popemobile.

Francis spoke to those present in his sermon on peace and directly challenged those who wield weapons.

“Let this be the right time for you who in this country call themselves a Christian but commit violence,” Francis said. “The Lord says to you: “fold your hands and receive mercy.”

“We Christians are called to cooperate with everyone to break the vicious circle of violence, to destroy the machinations of hatred,” the Pope said.

Francis said the population was suffering from “aching wounds, constantly infected with hatred and violence, while the remedy for justice and the balm of hope never seem to arrive.” according to Reuters.

decades police violence took over the DRC as state forces try to rein in insurgent groups. The conflict between government forces and the M23 rebel group, seeking to take control of the country from its stronghold in the east of the DRC, has led to many deaths and thousands of internally displaced people.

According to the UN World Food Program, 26 million people in the DRC suffer from severe hunger.

Francis met with victims of violence from the east during his visit and said he was “left speechless” after hearing their heartbreaking stories.

“We can only weep in silence,” the Pope said, thanking the victims for their courageous testimony.

On Friday, he is due to leave Kinshasa for Juba, the capital of South Sudan, where he will be joined by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Ian Greenshields, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.