Due the conflict, which for several months has been vehemently afflicting the region of Grand Kasai in the Democratic Republic of Congo, so far claiming more than 3,400 victims and causing massive material damage, Pope Francis has decided to send a concrete contribution via the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, to assist the populations in this emergency phase.

This aid, announced by the Holy Father yesterday in the Vatican Basilica during the Prayer Celebration for Peace in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, will be divided among the dioceses most affected by the conflict and will be used for the purposes of assistance. This contribution is part of the aid initiatives that are being activated throughout the Catholic Church and involve, in addition to various Episcopal Conferences, numerous charitable organizations. Among them, Caritas Internationalis launched an emergency call some time ago to meet the most urgent needs.