Pope Leo XIV prays for victims of Congo Ebola outbreak and mine collapse
At the Angelus on August 23, the pope remembered those killed by an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and by a landslide at a gold mine in the Central African Republic
Pope Leo XIV remembered the victims of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and of a landslide at a mine in the Central African Republic during his Angelus address on August 23, 2026. The pope said he was close to the communities affected and called for an international response that involves local communities in prevention efforts.
The outbreak was declared in May 2026 and has killed about 2,500 people, making it the deadliest in the country's history, according to an August 21 BBC report. The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently distributing a vaccine against the virus, and public health authorities are working to contain the epidemic.
The landslide struck a gold mine near Zamboyé, in the Central African Republic, on August 18, killing more than 100 workers, according to an August 19 BBC report. Rescue teams are still searching for survivors. "I am also close to the people of the Central African Republic, who mourn the victims of the collapse at the Zamboyé mine. May the Lord receive those who have lost their lives and sustain the efforts to guarantee safety and respect for the law at mining sites," the pope said.
Leo also spoke about the day's Gospel, in which Jesus asks his disciples about his identity and Peter professes his faith in him as the Son of God. The pope said the question is central to the daily experience of the life of faith. "The question that is put to us each day, who is Jesus for me and what does his presence mean in my life, arises especially in prayer and when we meditate on the Gospel," he said.
The pope urged the faithful not to settle for their own convictions about Christ but to "remain open to an authentic relationship with him." He said Jesus calls each person to give a personal response, to know him more closely and to let their friendship with him change them through renewed encounters. "This may also require that we follow unfamiliar paths and make choices different from those we had imagined," Leo said.
