KINSHASA, DR CONGO — Pope Leo has called for urgent international action to help contain the deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has reportedly claimed more than 2,500 lives.
Speaking during his weekly Sunday prayer with pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square, the Pope said he was praying for the people of the DRC amid the rapid spread of the disease.
“I urge the international community to respond in a way that also involves local communities in prevention efforts to save as many lives as possible,” he said.
United Nations officials have warned that the outbreak is spreading across a vast area of the central African nation, with infections and deaths continuing to rise.
The current outbreak is the 17th Ebola epidemic recorded in the DRC. In late July, it reportedly surpassed the 2018–2020 outbreak in terms of confirmed cases, making it the largest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history by that measure.
The Pope’s appeal comes as health authorities and international partners step up efforts to strengthen prevention, community engagement and emergency response to contain the disease and prevent further loss of life.
