杏MAP导航 appeals to Congolese authorities to avoid violence
By Devin Watkins
杏MAP导航 Francis has appealed to authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to do everything in their power to avoid all forms of violence.
"I ask the authorities and those responsible and all those in this beloved country that they use maximum commitment and effort to avoid all forms of violence and look for solutions in favor of the common good," he said.
His comments came ahead of the Angelus prayer in the Peruvian capital of Lima on Sunday.
Police in Congo used tear gas and gunfire to disperse thousands of demonstrators on the same day, killing at least 5 people and injured dozens more. The country's Catholic Church had called for peaceful protests, but the government banned the marches.
Saintly examples
Speaking ahead of the Angelus prayer, 杏MAP导航 Francis also invited the people of Peru to have courage and to follow the many saintly examples the Church of their country offers them.
He said life鈥檚 many difficulties can leave them discouraged. But the Holy Father told them to look to their Saints, like Martin de Porres, Rose of Lima, and many others.
He said their example shows that God loves us just as we are, without any kind of falsification or enhancement.
鈥淚 know that we all like to see digitally-enhanced photographs, but that only works for pictures; we cannot 鈥減hotoshop鈥� others, the world, or ourselves.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 told Peruvians that 鈥渢he heart can鈥檛 be 鈥榩hotoshopped鈥�, because that鈥檚 where authentic love and genuine happiness have to be found.鈥� Jesus, he said, 鈥渓oves you as you are, and he has a dream for every one of you.鈥�
杏MAP导航 Francis said that, even if we get discouraged with ourselves or others, God 鈥渘ever grows discouraged with us.鈥�
Thank you for reading our article. You can keep up-to-date by subscribing to our daily newsletter. Just click here
