PROTOCOL BREACH?
KINSHASA - The Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is at loggerheads with the government over what it has called the "degrading" treatment of its prelate when he was denied access to the VIP lounge at the N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa on Sunday.
Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, the chancery of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa, was on his way to Rome to meet Pope Francis.
He is one of the nine members of the Council of Cardinals, which advises the Pope.
In a letter to the government, the Catholic Church in Kinshasa said the treatment of its leader was not in line with the chancery's public standing and profile.
"As you know, the Cardinal Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa is a member of the Council of Cardinals who assists the Holy Father, Pope
Francis, in the project of reforming the church.
"It was for this mission he was travelling. Also, as Cardinal of the Holy Church, he holds a diplomatic passport. Why refuse this status, which has always been recognised by all cardinals, even internationally?" the church asked.
The church suspected that the treatment was the government's response to Besungu's Easter message, in which he said the security situation in the DRC was as good as a person in a coma.
He spoke about the situation in eastern DRC where a Southern African Development Community force, led by South Africa, is fighting alongside the government forces to resist rebel attacks.
The UN estimates that close to seven million people have been displaced by the protracted conflict.
"It would be a shame if this treatment follows his positions, notably his homily on Easter night, where he called out all those involved, in any way, in the current crisis in our country," the church said.
The "degrading" treatment has since caught the attention of the opposition party, known by its French name Ensemble pour la République (Together for the Republic), led by Moise Katumbi.
The party said the treatment of Besungu was "shameful" and added to "the chronic dishonour of the regime in Kinshasa and to the humiliation of the Congolese people by their leaders."
The DRC is home to the largest demographic of Catholics in Africa. Vatican records say 49 percent of the religious population in the DRC is Catholic.
In February 2023, Pope Francis embarked on a six-leg Africa tour that started in the DRC.
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