DR Congo archbishop welcomes Pope’s call for a disarmed peace

By Jean-Paul Kamba, SJ

In the Democratic Republic of Congo—a country marked by decades of conflict and instability—Pope Leo XIV’s call for a “disarmed and disarming” peace has found a particularly receptive audience. The Archbishop of Lubumbashi and President of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) Fulgence Muteba explains that the papal message has been welcomed “with great joy and gratitude” because the “concept of peace is for us a reality to which we deeply aspire.”

Speaking to Vatican News, the archbishop stresses the universal scope of the Holy Father’s words, which go far beyond the borders of Africa. He believes that, by constantly speaking about peace, the Pope hits “a very important point that concerns not only our continent, but the entire world.”

Pope Leo during his Angelus address on 21 December   (@Vatican Media)

Archbishop Muteba says he is especially encouraged by the renewed emphasis on the Church’s social teaching and by the continuity given to the encyclical Laudato si’. “The future of the world depends on safeguarding the environment and combating the destruction of everything around us”, he warns.

The Jubilee Year of Hope in Lubumbashi

As the Jubilee of Hope now draws to a close, the archbishop describes how his archdiocese lived the year “with profound faith,” marked by a strong commitment from Christians, teachers, Catholic movements, and others.

In Lubumbashi, he notes, the communities lived out the Jubilee journey with great intensity, strengthening their faith and rekindling missionary zeal.

A new year of hope

Building on Pope Leo's call, Archbishop Muteba expresses his wish that the coming year will be marked by realism and faith. Given “tragic situations” and the lack of true peace, hope is a vital necessity. “We need this hope to rekindle the faith of the faithful,” he says, while praying to the Lord for “more peace and more hope.”

The President of CENCO also underlines the importance of synodality as a path of communion. He recalls how “synodality allows us to strengthen our life together, beyond linguistic, technical, and other barriers.”

Christmas, the Incarnation, human dignity, and the urgent call to peace

Archbishop Muteba explains that in his homily for Christmas Mass, he emphasized that celebrating the birth of Jesus is not merely a remembrance but a living experience of faith—welcoming Christ, adoring Him, and letting Him be born in our hearts.

For the archbishop, the mystery of the Incarnation reveals God’s infinite love and the inalienable dignity of every human person, which led him to develop three main messages.

First, Christmas highlights human dignity (Ubuntu): the human person is worth more than any material wealth. In this sense, Archbishop Muteba denounces the unjust exploitation of the resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, likening it to a new form of economic colonialism. Moreover, he appeals for respect for the Congolese people, for peace, and for integral development.

Second, the Child in the manger is a sign calling for the respect and protection of the dignity of children, including those living on the streets. The Archbishop of Lubumbashi firmly condemns the violence, kidnappings, and forced recruitment they face.

Finally, Jesus is the “Prince of Peace.” In the face of a war that has ravaged his country for decades, Archbishop Muteba calls for the immediate cessation of violence and for dialogue, reconciliation, and forgiveness. He offers the warning that to refuse peace is to refuse God’s plan.