![]() In the Church of the DRC, there is a strong sense of commitment to the Gospel and to the Social Teaching of the Church by the Catholic laity. He wants the Congolese people to reconcile so that all the country’s children can live in harmony with one another. It is also a message of hope that the Holy Father brings to us. This is the message of the Lord through his envoy Pope Francis. And as they used to say in Jesus’ time, “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” His Holiness the Pope brings us a messenger of peace so that we can avoid the infernal cycle of war and violence, which we have lived for the last thirty years. ![]() Pope Francis is the successor of Peter, upon whom the Lord built his Church. From the laity’s viewpoint, what are your sentiments on the Pope’s visit to your country? The clergy and laity in the DRC are known for their active participation in socio-political issues. A new President, Felix Tshisekedi, was sworn in as president in January 2019. Finally, in December 2018, the government yielded, and elections took place. Professor Okana is a leading member of the DRC’s influential Catholic Comité Laïc de Coordination (CLC), the Lay Coordination Committee (CLC).Ĭatholic laity in the DRC were at the forefront of widespread peaceful marches and demonstrations when the municipal, regional and national elections scheduled for 20 were postponed by the government of President Joseph Kabila several times. Justin Okana, Emeritus Professor of the Catholic University of Congo and ordinary professor at the University of Kinshasa in the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management, explained what he saw as the role of the Catholic laity in the DRC. In an interview with Vatican Radio-Vatican News, Professor Justin Okana believes that the role of the Catholic layperson is to awaken the entire nation’s conscience and remind the authorities of the limits of their power in the face of the republican constitution. The Pope is visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country whose laity is known for its commitment and activism. Vatican News staffer, Stanislas Kambashi SJ, interviewed Congolese Professor Justin Okana.
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