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Pope Leo XIV has urged the international community to intensify efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as health officials warn that infections are rising rapidly.
Speaking after his Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square, the pope said the worsening outbreak remained in his prayers.
“In my prayers I often remember the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially because of the spread of the Ebola epidemic, which unfortunately is causing many victims,” he said.
Leo, who visited Africa in April, called for a coordinated international response involving communities affected by the outbreak.
“I encourage a response from the international community that also involves local communities in efforts to save many human lives,” he said.
The outbreak, described as the deadliest Ebola epidemic in the DRC’s history, has killed thousands, with the hardest-hit areas in the north and east facing weak state presence, limited healthcare infrastructure and decades of violence involving armed groups.
The pope also expressed solidarity with victims of a mining disaster in the Central African Republic, where a landslide at a gold mine in Zamboye near the border with Cameroon killed dozens of people.
“May the Lord welcome all those who lost their lives, and support efforts to guarantee the safety and legality of mining sites,” Leo said.
He also marked the 10th anniversary of a devastating earthquake in central Italy that killed about 300 people and severely damaged the town of Amatrice.
“I pray for the deceased and for their families, and for all the communities involved,” the pope said.
