SW News: The Holy Father Pope Francis praised the work of charities in the Democratic Republic of Congo while meeting with their delegates in the Apostolic Nunciature in Kinshasa on Wednesday evening.

Pope Francis hailed their work as a forest that is silently growing and bearing fruit amid the “noise” of ongoing violence and injustice”. The meeting with the pope was attended by delegates and beneficiaries of six charities operating in the nation. He said their testimonies they shared spoke with “spoke with affection about the poor”, people “with names and faces”, whom Christians, “cannot turn their backs on”.

“While so many today dismiss the poor, you embrace them; while the world exploits them, you encourage them. Encouragement versus exploitation: Here is a forest that is growing, even as deforestation and waste runs rampant! I would like to make better known what you are doing, to promote growth and hope in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on this entire continent. I came here out of a desire to be a voice for the voiceless,” the pope said.

He assured them that while their work of Christian charity is obscured by the media, his presence would give voice to this reality and the suffering of people who endure violence and marginalization.

“Poverty and rejection are an offence against human beings, robbing them of their dignity,” he said, adding that “Only by restoring dignity do we restore humanity”.

The Holy Father said that true charity attunes everyone to God and He gives surprises with unexpected wonders. The pontiff reminded everyone that Christian believers should never sully the witness of charity.

There were delegates and beneficiaries of six charities who shared their testimony before the pope. Among them were the DREAM Center (Disease Relief through Excellent and Advanced Means) of the Community of Sant’Egidio, the Fasta Association, an Argentinian-based humanitarian organization, working for the social promotion and inclusion of marginalized people, and “Telema Ongenge”, a local association supporting disabled people to improve their life conditions. The Trappist nuns of Our Lady of Mvanda, in Kikwit were also there. They take care of children with disabilities.

After listening to the testimonies of each charity, Pope Francis blessed their members and gifted them rosaries. A group of blind students belonging to a Catholic charity sang for the pope while students of a school for the deaf and mute explained their predicament to the pope in sign language.

The interaction came to an end with the recitation of the Our Father and the blessing of the Holy Father.