Vatican, 11 October, 2023 / 9:03 pm (ACI Africa).
The Holy See is “deeply concerned” about human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the chargé d’affaires of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva has said.
Speaking during the 54th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations (UN) on Monday, October 9, Mons. John Putzer said the Vatican “condemns all acts of violence, especially those which result in the loss of life or in sexual assault.”
“The Holy See remains deeply concerned about the alarming human rights situation in the DRC,” Mons. Putzer said.
Making reference to the Apostolic Journey of Pope Francis to the Central African nation earlier this year, the Vatican diplomat recalled that during his visit, the Holy Father “condemned armed violence, massacres, rapes, the destruction and occupation of villages, and the looting of fields and cattle.”
The Holy Father had also expressed concern about the “recruitment of child soldiers and increasing attacks by militant groups, as well as reported attacks by the national army,” the Vatican diplomat said during the October 9 event in Geneva.