Pope Francis denounced the 'poison of greed' for mineral resources driving conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo as he began a visit there on Tuesday, saying the rich world could no longer ignore the tragic plight of many African nations.
"It is a tragedy that these lands, and more generally the whole African continent, continue to endure various forms of exploitation," he said. "The poison of greed has smeared its diamonds with blood," he said, referring to Congo specifically.
Compounding these problems, eastern Congo has been plagued by violence connected to the long and complex fallout from the 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda. The Catholic Church plays a crucial role in running schools and health facilities in Congo, as well as promoting democracy. Tshisekedi made a similar point in his own speech: "While the international community has remained passive and silent, more than 10 million people have been horribly killed," he said.
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