Catholic leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo have said that they hope for lasting peace after brokering an 11th-hour deal between the government and the opposition.
The agreement stipulates that President Joseph Kabila step down after an election later this year. If successful, it would be the first peaceful transition of power in the country since independence in 1960.
Protests at Mr Kabila’s refusal to leave office led to dozens of deaths last month. Mgr Leonard Santedi Kinkupu, rector of Kinshasa’s Catholic University and former secretary-general of the bishops’ conference, said: “We’re all saluting this great step, the fruit of a dialogue arranged by the Church.”
“Being a Catholic country has given us an advantage over other African states when it comes to seeking peace, and it’s good the Church and its bishops have been instrumental in bringing this about,” he told the US Catholic News Service.
Mgr Kinkupu said: “The Church has always been involved in the work for peace and could use its moral authority to bring about direct negotiations.” He said there was now “a real chance of sparing our country from further violence, and this is why everyone has welcomed the Church’s engagement and offer of hope.”
In August, the bishops’ conference launched a mediation bid after the opposition accused Mr Kabila of seeking to delay autumn elections, but the bishops withdrew from a national dialogue in October amid worsening violence.
On December 8, shortly before the expiration of Kabila’s second and final term on December 20, both sides agreed to resume talks mediated by Church officials.
Under the December 31 accord, which was witnessed by foreign diplomats, Mr Kabila will remain in power pending elections by the end of 2017, alongside a government led by an opposition-nominated prime minister.
Newborn left abandoned in laundry basket at cathedral
A newborn found on the doorstep of the Cathedral of St Paul, Minnesota last week is reportedly in good health and being cared for by local children’s services.
Nathan Leonhardt, a custodian at the cathedral, discovered the infant as he was locking the building after evening Mass. The baby was left in a plastic laundry basket between the exterior and interior doors of a church entrance.
When he first saw the basket with a blanket on top, Mr Leonhardt thought someone had left laundry on the steps to the church foyer. He then heard a noise from the basket and thought it might be a puppy. When he removed the blanket, he saw the baby’s face. “I was speechless,” he said. “I froze for what seemed to be 10 seconds, but was probably more.”
He said the infant appeared to be recently born because he was still covered in blood and mucus. The umbilical cord was cut and clamped with a clip.
Mr Leonhardt and Fr John Ubel, cathedral rector, cared for the infant boy in the sacristy until emergency responders arrived. The priest said he baptised the child.
The baby was placed in the care of Ramsey County Child Protective Services.
Pope: help homeless survive winter
Pope Francis asked pilgrims to pray for the homeless on Sunday as he looked out over St Peter’s Square, where icicles hung from usually bubbling fountains.
“In these very cold days, I think, and I invite you to think, of the people who live on the streets, struck by the cold and, many times, by indifference,” he said.
“Unfortunately, some have not survived. Let us pray for them and ask the Lord to warm our hearts so that we can help them.”
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