Pope not there to sow doubt, but to serve as prophetic voice of the Church, asserts Congolese cardinal
Cardinal Ambongo Spearheads Catholic Peace Initiative in Congo Amid Controversy
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, the outspoken leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa, has embarked on a significant peace initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great African Lakes region. This move comes amidst ongoing controversy over the Vatican document "Fiducia Supplicans," which allows Catholic priests to bless same-sex or other unmarried couples.
Cardinal Ambongo, who found his vocation thanks to a missionary Capuchin priest from Belgium, Father Gerulf, has been a vocal critic of the document. He recently visited Poland for the first time, where he engaged in talks with the Secretariat of State and Pope Leo XIV to support the social pact.
The initiative invites the people of the region to interact and hold dialogue to build lasting peace. However, the government in Kinshasa is hesitant and not very enthusiastic about the peace initiative. In contrast, countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany have shown support for "The Social Pact for Peace and Living Well Together."
Cardinal Ambongo believes that the prophetic dimension of the church in Africa is valuable to the universal church. He has been influenced intellectually by the pontificate of John Paul II and was inspired by his social encyclicals and his support for the Solidarity movement.
The African episcopal conferences reviewed the document "Fiducia Supplicans" and produced a seven-page reaction document. Cardinal Ambongo personally brought this reaction document to Pope Francis, and it is believed that the pope changed his mind about the document.
In a statement on January 11, 2024, Cardinal Ambongo, in agreement with Pope Francis and Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, declared that the Catholic Church in African churches would not bless homosexual couples. This decision was made in the context of the ongoing controversy surrounding the "Fiducia Supplicans" document.
Congo, where Cardinal Ambongo is from, has been experiencing conflict for over 30 years. The fighting escalated in early 2025 when M23 rebels took over Goma and Bukavu. The cardinal has been vocal about a silent genocide unfolding in Congo due to the exploitation of its natural resources by others.
Pope Francis, during a visit to Congo on January 31, 2023, urged Western countries to stop exploiting Africa's resources. He also authorized Cardinal Ambongo to publish the document titled "No to the blessing of homosexual couples in African churches."
Cardinal Ambongo considers the "Fiducia Supplicans" document a bad chapter in the history of Pope Francis. He is determined to steer the Catholic Church in Africa towards a path of peace and social justice, inspiring pride among African Catholics who see their church as not afraid to stand up for its beliefs.
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