Pope Leo XIV has issued an urgent appeal for a coordinated international response to a deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, warning that the crisis demands both swift medical intervention and deep engagement with local communities.

Addressing pilgrims and visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square during the Angelus prayer, the pope said his thoughts were with families and health workers confronting the virus in some of the most fragile regions of central Africa. He stressed that any effective response must be rooted in trust, cultural sensitivity and long-term support for communities that have endured years of conflict and neglect.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has faced repeated Ebola outbreaks over the past decade, often in remote provinces where weak health systems, insecurity and misinformation complicate containment efforts. International agencies have highlighted how community resistance, driven by fear and historical mistrust of authorities, can undermine vaccination campaigns and contact tracing.

Pope Leo XIV called on governments, humanitarian organizations and faith-based groups to coordinate more closely, arguing that local leaders, churches and civil society are essential partners in prevention and public health education. He praised frontline medical staff and volunteers who continue to work in high-risk conditions, often with limited resources.

The pontiff also turned attention to another tragedy unfolding in the region, offering prayers for victims of a mine collapse in Zamboye, in the Central African Republic. More than 100 people are reported to have died after an artisanal gold mine gave way, highlighting the lethal mix of poverty, informal mining and weak regulation that characterizes much of the sector across central Africa.

He urged authorities and international partners to improve safety standards and enforce the law at mining sites, noting that thousands of families depend on small-scale mining for survival yet face daily danger from landslides, flooding and exploitation.

In his Angelus remarks, Pope Leo XIV also remembered communities in central Italy preparing to mark the anniversary of a powerful earthquake that devastated towns in Lazio, Umbria and Marche, killing hundreds and displacing many more. He said he was praying for survivors still rebuilding homes, livelihoods and social ties years after the disaster.

Linking the crises in Africa and Europe, the pope framed his appeal as a call to global solidarity, insisting that public health emergencies, unsafe labor conditions and natural disasters must be met with sustained international commitment rather than fleeting concern.