Saint Joseph Catholic Church

“Despite facing challenges, its positive impact on stabilizing fragile settings, protecting civilians and facilitating political transitions is undeniable and merits renewed support,” said Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations.

Archbishop Caccia added:

My Delegation emphasizes the urgent need to ensure that peacekeeping mandates are clear, realistic and adequately supported. It is essential to adapt mission structures, strengthen the capacity of peace operations to protect civilians, and ensure that peacekeeping is more deeply integrated into comprehensive political, humanitarian, and development strategies ... My Delegation pays heartfelt tribute to all peacekeepers, especially those who have lost their lives in serving peace.

On November 16, the Sunday before the Solemnity of Christ the King, the Church commemorates the 9th World Day of the Poor. The theme of the Pope Leo’s message for the day, released on the memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, patron saint of the poor (June 13), is “You are my hope” (cf. Ps 71:5).

“We are suffering an unjust war, a war we call the mineral war,” Abanda told Vatican News. “Our minerals have become blood minerals, because neighboring countries are being armed to attack us and then seize our minerals. Every phone we hold in our hands contains the blood of Congolese people, because it is Congolese coltan that is used to make phones.”

Abanda added, “The Congolese people need peace. The Congolese can sell their minerals through normal channels. They don’t have to kill us to take our minerals.”