Pope Leo expresses ‘deep’ sadness over deadly attack on Congolese church

Charles Collins• July 30, 2025

Pope Leo XIV today expressed his “deep sorrow” over the recent deadly attack on a church in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

More than 40 people were killed when Islamic State-backed rebels belonging to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked a Catholic church in Komanda, in Ituri province, on the night of 26 July. Children at a summer camp were among the victims in the attack.

In addition to expressing his sadness over the attack, Pope Leo prayed for the victims during his Wednesday audience in St. Peter’s Square on 30 July.

“As I entrust the victims to God’s loving Mercy, I pray for the injured and for Christians around the world who continue to suffer violence and persecution, urging all those with local and international responsibility to collaborate in order to prevent such tragedies,” the pontiff said.

He also noted that on 1 August the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act will be commemorated, before explaining its significance.

“Motivated by the desire to ensure security during the Cold War, 35 countries launched a new geopolitical chapter, fostering a rapprochement between East and West,” the pontiff said.

“This event also marked renewed interest in human rights, with special emphasis on religious freedom, regarded as one of the cornerstones of the then emerging architecture of cooperation ‘from Vancouver to Vladivostok’.

"The Holy See’s active participation in the Helsinki Conference –represented by Archbishop Agostino Casaroli – helped to promote political and moral commitment to peace.

“Today, more than ever, it is essential to safeguard the spirit of Helsinki: to persevere in dialogue, strengthen cooperation and make diplomacy the preferred path to prevent and resolve conflicts."

Father Marcelo Oliveira, a Comboni missionary in DRC's North Kivu province, which is also in the eastern part of the country, told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that those killed were part of the Eucharistic Crusade movement, who were participating in a prayer vigil as part of summer holiday activities.

“The attack occurred at around 1 a.m. in the morning. The rebels entered the church and murdered a large number of children, both inside the church building and in the compound,” he said. “We continue to pray for peace in this immense country and to ask for the grace of peace.”

DRC’s Radio Okapi reported that “victims were killed with bladed weapons”, while “other bodies were found in burned houses nearby”.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin spoke about the attack, saying: “This represents an additional problem in a region that already suffers from many conflicts of an ethnic, cultural and sociopolitical nature. The addition of a religious aspect now further aggravates the situation.”

Photo: Pope Leo XIV speaks during his weekly general audience at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, 30 July 2025. (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images.)