Pope calls for more efforts to stop Ebola in DR Congo

Pope Leo XIV addressed a crowd in Vatican City during the Angelus prayer on Sunday, urging the international community to assist in containing the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which health officials warn is rapidly spreading. During his prayer, the pope recalled the ongoing Ebola epidemic, which has resulted in numerous casualties and prompted his prayers.

He emphasized the need for an international response that includes local communities to prevent further loss of human lives. The pope, who visited Africa in April, highlighted the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the DRC's history, which has already claimed thousands of lives, primarily in the northern and eastern regions with weak governance, insufficient health infrastructure, and enduring violence from numerous armed groups.

Additionally, Pope Leo expressed his sympathy for the victims of a recent landslide caused by a mine collapse in the Central African Republic, where dozens of people were killed and many remain missing. Lastly, the pope remembered the 10th anniversary of a major earthquake in central Italy that killed approximately 300 people and devastated the city of Amatrice, praying for the deceased, their families, and all affected communities.