On September 26, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa, expressed deep concern over the environmental state of the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital city. During the opening mass of the 2026-2027 pastoral year at the Notre-Dame du Congo Cathedral, he highlighted the urgent need for collective action to address the city's ecological crisis. The pastoral year's theme, "Together for Evangelical Environmental Management," emphasizes the importance of protecting creation and shared responsibility in the face of environmental degradation.
Cardinal Ambongo painted a grim picture of Kinshasa's environmental situation, citing the accumulation of waste, proliferation of plastic materials, disappearance of green spaces, and obstruction of drains and rivers. He also mentioned the insufficiency of sanitation infrastructure, recurrent flooding, and the health consequences of unsanitary conditions. The cardinal lamented that Kinshasa, once proudly known as "Kinshasa la Belle," has become an "immense dumpster," severely disfigured by poor sanitation.
The Catholic Church plans to dedicate the 2026-2027 pastoral year to ecological conversion and integral ecology, inspired by Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato si'. Cardinal Ambongo emphasized that caring for creation is an integral part of Christian mission. He called on all components of the Church, including parishes, commissions, and associations, to coordinate their efforts and work together to address the environmental challenge.
The cardinal stressed that the vastness of the environmental challenge requires collective mobilization. He urged parishes, commissions, services, associations, schools, healthcare structures, and charitable works to unite their competencies around common objectives and coordinated actions. This synergy should also extend to collaboration with the Kinshasa provincial government, public institutions, and other actors committed to the common good.
Cardinal Ambongo clarified that the Church's engagement does not aim to substitute for the state but rather to address the consequences of poor sanitation on populations and the environment. This pastoral orientation coincides with the upcoming United Nations Climate Conference in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, in 2027. The cardinal expressed hope that the Church's initiative will contribute to a broader dynamic of awareness about climate and ecological issues.
The 2026-2027 pastoral year will be followed by a five-year pastoral plan from 2027 to 2032, focusing on the theme "Catholic Christian Identity, Dignity, and Pride." Cardinal Ambongo announced that the Church's efforts will continue beyond this pastoral year, with a new quinquennial program aimed at deepening the identity and dignity of Catholic Christians.
The Church's environmental initiative occurs in the context of President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi's establishment of a task force dedicated to Kinshasa's sanitation and cleanliness. The task force, led by Lieutenant-General Jean-Pierre Kasongo Kabwik, aims to develop and coordinate a special plan for the city's sanitation and cleanliness, identify and address critical points of unsanitary conditions, and propose measures to enforce urban discipline and environmental civism.
Key points
- The Catholic Church in Kinshasa is launching an initiative to address environmental degradation and promote ecological conversion.
- Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu has called on the city's residents and institutions to work together to address the environmental crisis.
- The initiative coincides with the upcoming United Nations Climate Conference in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, in 2027.
