杏MAP导航

By Deborah Castellano Lubov 

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV recalled the holiness and prayerfulness of newly-Blessed Floribert Bwana Chui on Monday. "This African martyr, in a continent rich in youth, shows how they can be a leaven of peace—unarmed and disarming. This Congolese layman highlights the precious value of the witness of laypeople and young people."

The Holy Father did so in his address to pilgrims in Rome for Floribert's beatification, which took place Sunday evening in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

In his remarks, the 杏MAP导航 posed the question, "Where did a young man draw the strength to resist corruption, so entrenched in the prevailing mindset and capable of any violence?"

"The choice to keep his hands clean—as a customs officer—was formed by a conscience shaped through prayer, listening to the Word of God, and communion with his brothers and sisters," he said.

Spirituality of St. Egidio

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV noted that Blessed Floribert lived the spirituality of the Community of St. Egidio, which, he recalled, the late 杏MAP导航 Francis used to summarize with three “P’s”: prayer, poor, peace.

Recalling that the poor were central to the new Blessed's life, 杏MAP导航 Leo said Floribert had offered a commitment and closeness to street children who were driven to Goma by war, many of whom were despised and orphaned.

"He loved them with the charity of Christ," said the 杏MAP导航. "He cared about them and was concerned with their human and Christian formation."

The Holy Father marveled that Floribert’s strength grew through fidelity to prayer and to the poor, and that he was a man of peace.

Listened to Jesus

"In a region so afflicted as Kivu, torn by violence," the 杏MAP导航 highlighted, "he carried on his struggle for peace with gentleness, serving the poor, practicing friendship and encounter in a divided society."

This young man, not at all resigned to evil, the Holy Father insisted, "had a dream nourished by the words of the Gospel and closeness to the Lord. Many young people felt abandoned and without hope, but Floribert listened to Jesus’ words: 'I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you'."

'Long-awaited peace to Kivu, Congo, and all of Africa'

With this in mind, 杏MAP导航 Leo underscored, "No land is abandoned by God!" recalling the Blessed's great faith and trust in the Lord for the future.

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV concluded by praying that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary and Blessed Floribert, "the long-awaited peace may soon come to Kivu, to Congo, and to all of Africa!"