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Pope Leo XIV at Angelus prays for DRC Ebola victims and CAR mine dead
Confirmed
What we know
Pope Leo XIV delivered his Sunday Angelus from St. Peter’s Square on Aug. 23, combining a Gospel reflection with public prayers for two Central African crises.
He said he often remembers the Democratic Republic of the Congo amid the spread of Ebola “which is sadly claiming many lives,” and urged an international response that involves local communities in prevention.
He also said he was close to the people of the Central African Republic mourning victims of the Aug. 18 gold-mine collapse at Zamboyé, asking that those killed be received by God and that mining sites be made safer and lawful.
In the Angelus reflection on Matthew’s Gospel (“Who do you say that I am?”), he warned against reducing faith to habit and urged remaining open to an authentic relationship with Christ — including unfamiliar personal and pastoral paths.
What's confirmed
- Vatican News / OSV News / EWTN News: Aug. 23 Angelus text and reporting from St. Peter’s Square.
- Leo XIV publicly named the DRC Ebola epidemic and the Zamboyé mine disaster in the Angelus remarks.
- BBC and other outlets had separately reported the Aug. 18 Zamboyé mine landslide killing more than 100 workers.
What's still developing
- Scale of any new Vatican or international aid steps tied to the Angelus appeals.
- Whether further papal statements follow as Congo’s Ebola toll and CAR rescue efforts evolve.