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 –
About 60 percent of the central African nation of roughly 100 million people are under the age of 20, according to UN figures. As well as conflict, young people face persistent unemployment. “Never give in to the persuasive but poisonous temptations of corruption,” he said in Italian, which was translated into the DRC’s official language French.Later on Thursday, he is due to meet Jesuit leaders and priests on the front line of the church’s work in the DRC.
He then met victims of conflict in the DRC’s mineral-rich east, some of whom had suffered appalling violence.“May he convert the hearts of those who carry out brutal atrocities, which bring shame upon all humanity,” he said.“Listen to the cry of their blood,” the pope said, alluding to a verse from the Book of Genesis.
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