U.S. Bishops’ International Justice and Peace Chairman Calls for Peaceful and Credible Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo

| 12/15/2023

By: The Good Newsroom

“In this season of Advent, may the promises of Our Emmanuel, be among the people of the DRC – that peace and the furtherance of the common good will flourish”

Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles and Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori concelebrate Mass during the 2017 convocation of U.S. Catholic leaders in Orlando, Florida.
Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles and Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori concelebrate Mass during the 2017 convocation of U.S. Catholic leaders in Orlando, Florida. "We need to save the Lebanese people," Bishop Zaidan told Catholic News Service during an interview in mid-June 2022. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

WASHINGTON – In anticipation of Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) national elections December 20, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, has joined the Congolese Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CENCO) in their call for free and fair elections.

The DRC has one of the world’s highest population of Catholics.

“For years the people of the Congo have worked to build a democratic country, in which the Congolese can participate freely and effectively in the political process of self-governance. The local Catholic Church has been at the forefront of these efforts to ensure free and fair elections. Our committee has been privileged to walk in solidarity with the Church in the Congo to support their efforts.

“In continuance of our support of the local Church during this tumultuous time of DRC’s election, we call on all people of good will in the Congo to work tirelessly to hold peaceful and credible elections. We call on international partner countries and organizations monitoring the elections to support the Congolese bishops’ efforts to ensure that the voice of the people is accounted for and fully respected.

“In this season of Advent, may the promises of Our Emmanuel, be among the people of the DRC – that peace and the furtherance of the common good will flourish.”

"Concédeme conocer mejor qué es lo que me mueve, para rechazar aquello que me aleja de Cristo, y así más amarlo y servirlo", dice el papa de oración.

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