The Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin expressed concern about the recent perpetrated attack Against a Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in which at least 31 members of the Eucharistic Crusade died, a prayer and apostolate movement for children and young people, focused on devotion to the Eucharist and personal sanctification.
“It is a dangerous sign,” said Cardinal Parolin who stressed the growing threat of the forces identified as allied democratic forces (ADF).
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For the Italian prelate this group is a force “that practically represents Islamic jihad and is imposed through strength and violence.”
The attack has once again turned on the alarms about the situation of insecurity of Christians in this region: “This represents an additional problem in a region that already suffers many conflicts of ethnic, cultural and socio -political nature. That now the religious aspect is also further aggravated by the situation,” said Cardinal Parolin to the media in a break during an event with Catholic influencers Conciliation, a few steps from the Vatican.
According to the first information, the terrorists broke into a Catholic Church in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, when they participated in a prayer vigil.
As reported BBCmembers of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) broke into a church in the city of Komanda, where they killed the faithful Catholics by shooting, and then looting and burning nearby businesses.
Komanda is in the province of Ituri, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an area rich in minerals and whose control is disputed several armed groups.
The prelate of the Vatican was asked about the attack on the Catholic parish of the Sagrada Familia, the only Catholic temple in Gaza, which caused the death of three people, including two refugee women and recognized that Israel corresponds to avoid them.
“It is up to Israel to find how these mistakes are not repeated. I think, if you want, you can find the way,” he said.
Asked about the war between Israel and Hamas, he said that “the solution goes through the direct dialogue between the two parties, with a view to the constitution of two state and autonomous realities.”
The Secretary of State of the Holy See recognized that “this becomes increasingly difficult because of the situation that has been created and that is being created in the West Bank.”
In his analysis, Cardinal Parolin stressed that “also in these months, Israeli settlements do not favor from a practical point of view the realization of the state of Palestine.”
The cardinal also referred to an next attempt to reactivate the peace process: “Now it seems to me that there will be in New York, I do not know if this week or when exactly, a conference promoted by France and Saudi Arabia to find the practical terms for the implementation of the State.” And he added cautiously: “We hope you bring something positive.”
On the relationship between the Holy See and the Latin patriarchy of Jerusalem, he said: “Of course, we are in continuous contact. He (the patriarch) informs us of all the steps he takes, also asks for our advice, and therefore there is a very strong collaboration.”
Victoria Cardiel
Victoria Cardiel is a journalist specialized in social and religious information issues. Since 2013, he has covered all the news of the Vatican for various media, such as the Spanish news agency Europa Press, or the weekly of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Alfa and Omega.