Ambongo: Francisco gave Africa to adhere to dignity and justice

Staslaslas Kambashi, SJ – City Del Vatican

Francisco was the Pope near Africa, where his visits were in 10 African countries in 12 years of Pontvie. One of his unforgettable trips went to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he condemned “economic colonialism”, and his hands “outside RDC” and Africa, which “is not a mine to be exploited.” In Kinshasa, the capital of the country, the head of bishops received Cardinal Friedoline Ambongo, who was his narrow collaborator. It was part of the C9, the Cardinals Council nine officials for helping the Pope in reforming the Romanian Korea. He is currently the president of Secam, the Episcopal Conferences Symposium in Africa and Madagascar. After announcing the death of the Pope, the Congolese called these repercussions with the Vatican media.

Pope Francis returned to the father’s house on Monday, April 21, Monday, Easter. How did you receive the news?

I was sad when I knew this news yesterday, especially since the day before, on Sunday of Easter, the Pope himself appeared in Plaza de Saint Pedro and blessed people, which gave us hope that the forces would recover. So the first thing I feel sad. At the same time, we are in the perspective of Easter, where Christ died and resumed. As in this hope in the resurrection that I think, dear Pope Francis is alive. The comfort in the peace of the Lord.

The Pope appeared on Easter on Sunday, as he remembered, and gave the blessing European et orbi. In his message, he read before the blessing, he made a strong invitation to peace, especially in the coast, southern Sudan, Sudan, the Horn of Africa and in his country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As President of SECAM, how do you echo this message in your opinion?

For us in Africa, what the Pope said yesterday seems like his last will, his will, before leaving this world. Throughout it, Pope Francis was a great voice in favor of justice and global peace and a little and weak. He said that on Sunday and left Monday! For us, it seems to be a testimony that leaves us and we must continue to implement a new birth from this continent that suffers a lot, so that it earns the dignity of men and women who are now victims of all kinds of violence, of all kinds of injustice, to win a little dignity, as Francisco always wanted.

Al Samaha, as a member of C9, you were one of the closest collaborators in Pope Francis. What will remain from many of the innovations he presented?

Francisco will remain in history as the Pope of Reform. He did a lot to reform the church, and this should continue, and I think it will continue, for a simple reason that before leaving the synod cycle on the Synod. What this cinemis produced has become a heritage of the entire church. Although Pope Francis is no longer, this is the inheritance that leaves us and is in us to apply what he always wants. I am convinced that the reform will continue.

It has sparked the cinemis. In mid -March, Francisco agreed to the beginning of the Senodal road that should lead to an ecclesiastical collection in 2028. Can we say that this synodic path is still incomplete?

I will not say incomplete. The Pope always repeated: “I beg to the Lord to give me enough time so that the reforms that started to reach the point of return can be able to reach.” I think Francisco’s reform initiatives have reached this point today. That is why I am convinced that the reforms will continue. As for the International Church, above all it relates to this approach that the Pope wanted to make between the Church and society, that is, the Church does not live as separate from the reality that surrounds it. But being an salt of the earth and the light of the world, which illuminates the facts of the world around us. I think this is a tremendous legacy that leaves us.

As President of SECAM, what is the legacy that Pope Bergolio for Africa is leaving?

For the African continent, it is mainly the enhancement of the value and dignity of the human person. As you know, if there is part of the world where humans suffer, this is undoubtedly here, in Africa. We still remember the last messenger journey he made to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa, with the strong and prophetic words he declared and that not only hesitate to the ears of Congolese, but throughout the African continent and in the entire world. I think for us, the inheritance that the Pope has left is exactly this struggle that we must continue to fight in the name of the Bible, in the name of mutual love, so that all Africans can live in dignity.

Francisco visited his country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in 2023. This trip was recorded in memory, with strong calls, especially against economic exploitation and colonialism. How are these calls still echo today?

The ink herself considered the journey to the Congo as one of its most important Apostolic visits. He admired the welcome, enthusiasm of people, and his existence that inspired a lot of hope. You know that the Congolese people today are still suffering. In this context, the visit of the Pope was like parentheses in which people lived, faced a moment of happiness, a moment of pulse, and a moment of communication between the Congolese, which is a moment of communication between the people and his god. This will remain in history.

At the moment of mourning for the death of Francisco, what is the invitation to the faithful Christians?

We are all shocked by this sad news, but in the hope we believe that the Pope is already in the father’s house. I simply ask God’s people to continue to support them by praying and maintaining the position of remembrance in this period of pain.