Rome, June 15th, 2025 (CPA).- Floribert Bwana Chui, a young layman from the Democratic Republic of Congo considered a martyr, whose beatification has taken place on Sunday during a Mass at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, Italy, will be celebrated every July 8th, according to the apostolic letter of Pope Leo XIV read by his representative. « We grant that the venerable servant of God Floribert Bwana, lay martyr, who having recognised that love of neighbour is more precious than earthly goods but also (more) than his own life, bore heroic witness to the Kingdom of Heaven and the peace inaugurated by the Lord Jesus (…). We ask that he henceforth be called blessed and that he be celebrated each year (…) on July 8th”, has read Cardinal Marcello Semeraro on behalf of the Holy Father. Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa, capital of the DRC, was among the co-celebrants of this religious service. ‘Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, we welcome this beatification as a call to the Congolese Catholic faithful, as well as to all people of good will, to a greater commitment to greater transparency in the management of public affairs, justice, peace, faith and trust in the risen Christ,’ has said the Congolese prelate. ‘We also want to reassure the Most Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, that our Episcopal Conference, CENCO, will take pastoral measures to implement the fight against corruption, which is a real scourge on our society,’ he has added. The Mass has been led by the ‘Bondeko’ choir of the Congolese chaplaincy in Rome.
A large Congolese delegation, including, among others, the Minister in charge of Communication and Media Patrick Muyaya and National Deputy Eliezer Ntambwe, was among the Congolese dignitaries present at the beatification of Floribert Bwana Chui.
Testimonials
« The people whom the Church proposes for the devotion of everyone, through beatification, serve as examples and teach us to imitate them. In addition to being intercessors, they are role models. Floribert is one such example, » has said Father Sisi Kayan, a Congolese priest on mission in Rome, on the occasion of the beatification of Floribert Bwana Chui. « He is a model of righteousness and values to be preserved. He is worth presenting to everyone. He has been killed, murdered in the name of the values of his Christian faith. The fact to be murdered for defending his faith and the Christian values of truth, honesty and justice is a great celebration for the Congo, which joins Anuarite and Bakanja, » he has indicated. Abbot Sisi has also given a mark of distinction and excellence to the Democratic Republic of Congo for its four blessed individuals. « When we look at sub-Saharan Africa, we see that there are not many saints. And DRC alone will have four blessed individuals. An example of honesty and resistance to corruption is commendable because, for the sake of survival or private interests, it is easy to compromise, at the risk of exposing the health of others, as in this case, » he has said. « I am happy about this event, which coincides with the feast of the Holy Trinity. The Floribert’s beatification brings us joy because he showed Africa that it is possible to put the Gospel into practice in professional life and prevent the bloodshed of one’s brothers, » has declared to the CPA Father Celestino Roque Vemba, an Angolan priest visiting Italy.
« (Floribert) has fought against corruption, which continues to destroy Africa’s development to this day. We commend him because corruption is one of Africa’s major problems, preventing us from living in equality, dignity and as creatures of God. Our African brother Floribert Bwana teaches us to have the courage to fight this scourge in order to restore respect for the governments of our countries,‘ he has continued, before calling on ’all African brothers, particularly those from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to make the fight against corruption a powerful weapon to eliminate this scourge from our countries. »
A model for the fight against corruption
It should be noted that President Felix Tshisekedi has made the fight against corruption one of the leitmotifs of his term as head of state. At an international conference bringing together finance inspectors from several African countries, held in Kinshasa in December 2024, he has clearly denounced the fact that corruption is blocking the momentum of development in any country. ‘Corruption is not a mere administrative irregularity or a minor detail in the management of public assets; it is a moral and social perversion, an insidious weakening of our institutions, a continuous diversion of our collective destiny. It undermines the credibility of the state and erodes the mutual trust that must exist between those who govern and those who are governed. Above all, it breaks the momentum of development,’ he had said. He had then pledged to continue working towards a more stable legal and institutional environment that promotes the independence of magistrates, while encouraging DRC finance inspectors to show greater dedication and rigour in the fight against this scourge. « Continue and redouble your efforts and self-sacrifice in your missions, never let your guard down. The nation is grateful for your sacrifice and tenacity. You carry the banner of integrity in the administration, sometimes at the risk of your own safety, » had said Felix Tshisekedi. A speech that resonates with the life story of Floribert Bwana Chui, martyr and model of the fight against corruption.