Clergy, Laity in DR Congo Condemn Judicial Enquiry against Cardinal Ambongo as “shameful initiative”

In the April 30 statement, ACKIN members defend their Local Ordinary. They say, “All the sermons, press briefings and interviews of the Cardinal Archbishop of Kinshasa, as a pastor, are based on the Catholic faith and awaken the consciences of the faithful in line with the Church's social teaching.”

“As such, they can never deliberately violate consciences. Calling for a common front in the face of external threats is in no way seditious remarks. Likewise, is demanding good treatment for our soldiers at the front discouraging them and calling for rebellion?” the Clergy of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa pose. 

They say Cardinal Ambongo has moral rectitude and go on to “denounce and condemn this shameful initiative which instrumentalizes justice and reflects a dictatorial drift aimed at annihilating freedom of expression.”

“We openly reaffirm, in the clearest possible terms, our attachment and unfailing loyalty to our Archbishop, Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo,” ACKIN members says, adding, “Our hearts go out to him as he carries out his prophetic mission: For the love of the Congo, I will not be silent.”

They say that Cardinal Ambongo’s messages “are welcomed by all the Catholic faithful as well as by all people moved by justice, truth and peace, seeing in him the defender of the little ones and the hope of an entire people.”

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The Clergy of Kinshasa Archdiocese describe the judicial enquiry as diversionary considering the security challenges the Central African nation is facing. 

“The nation is in danger, and now is not the time for diversion. To all those who have the wrong target, we issue this warning: Whoever touches the Cardinal, touches the Clergy. Whoever summons the Cardinal, summons the Clergy,” they say. 

ACKIN members call upon the people of God in the country to “remain calm and be vigilant as we await the directives: Do not be afraid: speak up, do not remain silent.”

“We pray for the Cardinal, the Church and the Nation, that this time of trial may be transformed into a seed of justice, peace, reconciliation and sustainable development. May God bless our great and beautiful country, the DR Congo,” the Clergy of Kinshasa implore.

In another statement, members of the Catholic Lay Apostolate Council of Congo (CALCC) describe the judicial enquiry against Cardinal Ambongo as a “relentless effort to silence the Cardinal, who remains faithful to his prophetic mission.”

“We recall that the millions of faithful Catholics in our country are united in the dignity of their Pastor, His Eminence Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo. To humiliate him in the exercise of his prophetic mission is to humiliate an entire people who aspire to a better life in this country,” CALCC members say in the statement issued Wednesday, May 1.

They add, “We invite the public prosecutor's office to use the independence of the judiciary to withdraw from this move aimed at muzzling the servant of God, and consequently muzzling an entire people facing ontological and socio-economic extinction.”

In the statement signed by CALCC President, Jean Bosco Lalo, the members of the laity renew “our support for our Pastor and our commitment to pray for the integral development of our Church and our country.”

“We call on the Catholic Laity and all people of good will to remain on the alert while awaiting the measures that will be taken,” CALCC members say, and implore, “May the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of Blessed Isidore Bakanja, Martyr of the Faith, provide us with the necessary strength.”

On April 30, members of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) said they were closely following the Cardinal’s case and urged the people of God in DRC to remain calm.

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“CENCO is following this situation closely and calls on all parties to remain calm, as the matter is being handled responsibly by the competent authorities, in compliance with the country's legal texts, including the Framework Agreement between the DR Congo and the Holy See, which guarantees a system of loyal and sincere collaboration between the Catholic Church and the State, in the service of the Congolese people,” Catholic Bishops in DRC said in a statement shared with ACI Africa.

Lately, on April 14, security officials at Ndjili international airport reportedly denied Cardinal Ambongo access to the VIP lounge. The Congolese Cardinal, a member of the Council of Cardinals (C9), who advise Pope Francis on governing the Church and reforming the Curia, was en route to Rome.

In a statement issued April 14, the Chancellor of Kinshasa Archdiocese condemned “in the strongest terms the degrading treatment meted out by airport officials” to the Cardinal and linked the “unfortunate” incident to Cardinal Ambongo’s “prophetic pronouncements”, particularly his criticism of the Congolese government in his 2024 Easter Message.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.