AFRICA/DR CONGO - Cardinal Monsegwo: "Youth, commit yourselves to working hard to get Congo out of poverty"

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - "Young people from Kinshasa, the present and the future of the Country are yours. Have strong personal convictions. Do not be like sheep who foolishly follow others, for fear of what will be told to you. 'No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God', says Luke 9, 62. The Church is ready to help you and prepare you, if you are ready to take charge of your life, that of others and the destinies of the Nation", urged Cardinal Laurent Monsegwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in his Homily on Palm Sunday, March 25, World Youth Day at a diocesan level.
"Young people from Kinshasa, the future of the Country is in your hands", the Cardinal reiterated. "The future of the Country belongs to you. Of course, you have the right to blame the elders and politicians for having sacrificed your generation. You are right to blame politicians and the ruling class of our Country for having failed. But what do you intend to do to straighten the path? The Country needs you in the political field, economic, social and cultural, religious life. Are you ready to take charge of the destiny of the nation and to assume your responsibilities?" asked the Cardinal.
The DRC lives in a political, social and economic stalemate, due to the political crisis caused by the presidential elections which were not held in 2016, due to the insecurity that pervades entire provinces of the Country, the corruption that undermines economic bases and civil coexistence itself.
In this situation, the most capable and resourceful young people seek fortune abroad. The Cardinal addresses them with these words: "What do you intend to do? Young brilliant and able academics prefer to stay in Europe or America, waiting for others to put the Country back on track, so that they can come to reap the fruits of pain and sacrifice, risks and sweat of others?". The Cardinal also criticizes those young people who, while remaining in the DRC, do not commit themselves and delegate their tasks to others: "How many young, beautiful and strong people stay at home, waiting for another person to find a job for them?".
But there are many young people engaged in the animation of peaceful protests to demand the implementation of the Agreements of December 31, 2016, aimed at bringing the DRC to free and credible elections.
In particular Cardinal Monsegwo addresses the young: "May the Lord through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, bless your courage, your commitment! May He satisfy all your desires as stated in Psalm 20: 6. May He fill you with joy and peace!" (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 27/3/2018)

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