“As we prepare to mark the second anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar, on February 1, we ask God to move the hearts of all those who can put a stop to this tragedy. We pray also for all the internally displaced, including children, women, the elderly and sick in the affected areas."

The jihadist used a machete to kill the warden of one of the churches, Diego Valencia, married and a father, who was well known locally as the owner of a florist, and injured four more, including a priest. 

“Father Achi’s activities among his people in Kafin Koro could have caused the desire for his abduction or even killing. He has been the voice of counsel and encouragement to the entire people of Kafin Koro in the face of attacks by bandits in the area. People called him, some went to him for counsel on all kinds of matters"

The jihadist terror group was eventually defeated, but the buildings, including two important churches, were almost destroyed, and the population scattered, some to refugee camps, while others emigrated.

“The impact of the Catholic Church in DRC is difficult to overestimate. Its schools have educated more than 60 percent of the nation’s primary school students and more than 40 percent of its secondary students.

“The witness of a man tested by pain and illness” marked a ‘before’ and an ‘after’ for Cuban Catholics.