DRC: Archbishop urges peace at Christmas Eve midnight mass

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Msg. Fridolin Ambongo, the the newly appointed Archibishop of Kinshasa, delivers the homily during an early midnight mass at the Notre Dame du Congo Cathedral in Kinshasa, Congo, Monday Dec. 24, 2018. Ambobgo said that Congolese people must embrace non-violence to make it through Dec. 30th elections. He warned that "The publication of results that would not reflect the will of the people as expressed in the ballot boxes would mean the annihilation of peace in our country. " (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Posted By: Michael Onas December 25, 2018

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KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — An appeal for peace during Congo’s tense, volatile election period was issued at a Christmas Eve midnight mass in Kinshasa.

The newly appointed Archbishop Fridolin Ambongo called on President Joseph Kabila’s government to hold the elections on Dec. 30, as announced last week.

Cheers greeted his homily at the Notre Dame Cathedral of Kinshasa.

“The real peace excludes egoism, regionalism, tribalism, division and categorization that pushed us apart,” said Ambongo. “In this critical period in the history of our country, I invite each of you to have a sense of responsibility, and to embrace nonviolence, so we may make it through December 30th 2018 that elections happen in peace and truth.”

Congolese children pray as Msg. Fridolin Ambongo, the the newly appointed Archibishop of Kinshasa, delivers the homily during an early midnight mass at the Notre Dame du Congo Cathedral in Kinshasa, Congo, Monday Dec. 24, 2018. Ambobgo said that Congolese people must embrace non-violence to make it through Dec. 30th elections. He warned that “The publication of results that would not reflect the will of the people as expressed in the ballot boxes would mean the annihilation of peace in our country. ” (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Congo’s Catholic church has a been a longtime supporter of democracy in the country and has urged Kabila to hold elections, which have been postponed for two years.

The church has been a key player in negotiations after Kabila refused to step down at the end of his mandate in 2016.

“Real peace, today in our country, the peace that comes from Jesus Christ, that peace requires that the elections are held on schedule, on the 30th of December 2018,” said Ambongo.

“Real peace … is a peace that also calls for the results when they are announced to reflect the real will of the people,” he said.
By MATHILDE BOUSSION I Associated Press

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