Pope Leo XIV has expressed deep sorrow and spiritual solidarity following a brutal terrorist attack that claimed dozens of lives at the Parish of Blessed Anuarite in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“May the blood of these martyrs become a seed of peace, reconciliation, fraternity, and love for the Congolese people,” Pope Leo XIV said in a message delivered on his behalf by Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu, President of the Congolese Bishops’ Conference, according to Vatican News.
Cardinal Parolin also relayed the Pope’s dismay, writing, “His Holiness Pope Leo XIV learned with dismay and deep sorrow of the attack perpetrated against the Parish of Blessed Anuarite in Komanda, which caused the death of several faithful gathered for worship,” according to Vatican News.
The telegram went on to state that the tragedy “calls us even more urgently to work for the integral human development of the martyred population of that region.” The Holy Father concluded by imparting his Apostolic Blessing “upon the Parish of Blessed Anuarite, the mourning families, the faithful of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the entire nation,” Vatican News reported.
The attack took place on Sunday, July 27, 2025, when militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group affiliated with the Islamic State, stormed a Catholic church in Komanda during a vigil. At least 38 people were killed, including women and children, with additional fatalities reported in a nearby village, according to Al Jazeera.
Christophe Munyanderu, a local human rights defender, said, “The rebels mainly attacked Christians who were spending the night in the Catholic church… killed with machetes or bullets,” as reported by Al Jazeera.
Some reports placed the death toll as high as 43, citing UN-backed Radio Okapi, while others confirmed 34 deaths, showing the challenge of getting accurate information in such volatile conditions, according to Associated Press (AP).
In addition to the deaths, shops and homes in Komanda were looted and set ablaze. Five additional victims were killed in the nearby village of Machongani, AP reported.
The ADF, originally formed in Uganda in the 1990s, has operated in eastern Congo for years. After being forced out of Uganda, the group embedded itself in the border regions, targeting civilians and Christian communities in both countries. The group later aligned with ISIS under the umbrella of the Islamic State Central Africa Province.
“This attack is among the deadliest this year and reflects the failure of joint military operations to protect civilians,” Onesphore Sematumba of the International Crisis Group told AP.
For Catholics worldwide, the Holy Father’s message reframes this violence in the light of faith. His reference to the victims as “martyrs” underscores the Church’s belief that their suffering, offered in fidelity to Christ, may become a source of grace for their nation.
According to Vatican News, Pope Leo XIV calls the global Church to respond in solidarity and prayer—and to renew its commitment to peace, justice, and the integral development of people suffering in war-torn regions.
Let us pray with the Holy Father, entrusting these souls to God’s mercy, and striving to live as peacemakers in a world yearning for healing.
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