Pope Leo XIV calls out Christian persecution amid latest massacre of civilians in African nation

Pope Leo XIV called retired the latest onslaught against Christians successful the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), calling attraction to what helium described arsenic a increasing planetary signifier of unit against the faithful.

"In assorted parts of the world, Christians endure favoritism and persecution. I deliberation particularly of Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, and different countries from which we often perceive of attacks connected communities and places of worship. … I travel successful supplication the families of Kivu, successful the Democratic Republic of the Congo, wherever successful caller days determination has been a massacre of civilians. Let america commune that each unit whitethorn cease and that believers whitethorn enactment unneurotic for the communal good," the pope wrote successful a connection published connected his authoritative X page.

His connection came arsenic authorities successful the DRC confirmed that astatine slightest 17 radical were killed, according to The Associated Press, erstwhile fighters from the Allied Democratic Forces, a militant radical aligned with the Islamic State, stormed a church-run infirmary successful the colony of Byambwe, North Kivu.

TRUMP DESIGNATES NIGERIA AS 'COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN' OVER WIDESPREAD CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION, KILLINGS

FILE photo: The facade of a religion deed by an artillery ammunition pursuing clashes is seen successful Goma connected January 30, 2025. DR Congo's president has vowed a "vigorous" subject effect against Rwandan-backed fighters who precocious further successful the mineral-rich eastbound of the state aft seizing astir of the region's main city, wherever immoderate residents tentatively emerged connected January 30, 2025. The M23's seizure of astir of Goma, the superior of North Kivu province, is simply a melodramatic escalation of a decade-long conlfict that has seen it prehend swathes of eastbound Democratic Republic of Congo. (Alexis Huguet/AFP via Getty Images)

The attackers entered the diocesan wellness halfway precocious Friday night, sidesplitting patients successful their beds and mounting the installation ablaze. Col. Alain Kiwewa, the section administrator, told the Associated Press that "women who were breastfeeding were brutally slaughtered and recovered with their throats slit successful their infirmary beds," adding that 11 women and six men were killed.

Vatican News described the country arsenic "a violent onslaught connected civilians," citing accounts from survivors and clergy. Fr. Giovanni Piumatti, an Italian missionary who served much than 5 decades successful the Diocese of Butembo-Beni, told the work that militants looted aesculapian supplies, acceptable occurrence to the hospital, and destroyed 27 adjacent homes.

"This is simply a emblematic ADF attack," helium said successful the Vatican News interview. He added that the ADF fighters "kill mothers arsenic they are breastfeeding their babies," describing a signifier of brutality that helium said has go communal successful the region.

AFRICAN UNION CHIEF DENIES GENOCIDE CLAIMS AGAINST CHRISTIANS AS CRUZ WARNS NIGERIAN OFFICIALS

Pope Leo XIV looks connected arsenic helium leads the Jubilee wide of Marian Spirituality astatine St. Peters' quadrate successful the Vatican connected Oct. 12, 2025.  (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP via Getty Images)

The ADF, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State successful 2019, has repeatedly targeted Christians, churches, and spiritual facilities crossed eastbound Congo.

In an Aug. 6, 2025, Human Rights Watch study said the Allied Democratic Forces "killed much than 40 people, including respective children, with guns and machetes during a nighttime religion gathering" successful Komanda, Ituri province, and noted that successful caller years the radical has been "implicated successful scores of killings and abductions" crossed eastbound Congo.

Vatican News reported that the infirmary was operated by the Little Sisters of the Presentation, who supply maternal attraction and basal surgical services successful a portion with fewer functioning aesculapian facilities. Several newborns are believed to person been kidnapped successful the attack, according to the Associated Press.

Piumatti condemned what helium called the "shameful silence" of the planetary community, saying that economical interests successful North Kivu’s mineral-rich territory person allowed equipped groups to flourish.

Villagers locomotion towards burial tract of 49 Christians killed by jihadists successful Democratic Republic of Congo. July, 2025. (Open Doors)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Byambwe massacre is the latest successful a bid of Islamist-linked attacks connected the continent, adding caller urgency to the pope’s telephone for planetary attraction to Christian persecution and extortion of susceptible communities.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.