Vatican City: On Sunday, 15 June 2025, the Catholic Church will beatify Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi, a Congolese layman hailed for his unwavering integrity and moral courage, during a solemn celebration at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. The beatification, to take place on the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, marks a powerful recognition of a man who chose death over corruption.
Floribert, who was just 26 when he was killed in 2007, was officially recognized as a martyr for truth and righteousness by Pope Francis on 25 November 2024. The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints announced both his martyrdom and the upcoming beatification, calling it a “joyful event” that has stirred pride and spiritual renewal in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Born on 13 June 1981 in Goma, DRC, Floribert was raised in a well-to-do family and educated in law and economics. His career took him to the Congolese Control Office (OCC), where he became head of customs oversight in Goma, overseeing goods imported into the country — a role that would ultimately cost him his life.
While serving in that role, he was confronted with an ethical dilemma: allow the entry of contaminated food shipments from Rwanda or reject the bribes and risk retaliation. True to his faith and conscience, Floribert refused the bribes and ordered the destruction of the toxic food, refusing to endanger lives for money.
He is remembered for saying: “Do I live for Christ or not? It’s better to die than accept this money.”
On the night of 7–8 July 2007, Floribert was kidnapped and murdered — paying the ultimate price for his integrity.
Bishop Willy Ngumbi of Goma, who announced the beatification date, described Floribert as a beacon of hope and an icon of incorruptibility for the Church and the people of the Congo. “Floribert didn’t just talk about values — he lived them with every breath until his last,” the bishop noted.
Floribert’s legacy continues to resonate, especially among young Catholics and professionals facing ethical pressures. His commitment to justice, even at the cost of his life, has been described by Bishop Faustin Ngabu as “a powerful manifestation of Christian faith.”
To commemorate his martyrdom, a thanksgiving Mass will be held in Goma on 8 July 2025, marking the anniversary of his death. The event will not only celebrate his beatification but also reaffirm the Church’s call to justice and moral courage in the face of corruption.
Floribert Bwana Chui becomes the fourth Congolese to be beatified, joining the ranks of Blessed Anuarite Nengapeta, Isidore Bakanja, and Father Albert Joubert.
His beatification is more than an ecclesiastical event — it is a call to conscience for a world too often tempted by moral compromise. Through his sacrifice, Floribert stands as a timeless example of integrity, and now, a Blessed martyr of the modern Church.