Rome: In a powerful ceremony held at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, the Vatican on Sunday beatified Floribèrt Bwana Chui Bin Kositi, a young Congolese customs officer who was killed for his courageous stand against corruption. His legacy now stands as a beacon of integrity and faith in a region plagued by systemic graft.

Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, led the beatification Mass, which drew an exuberant crowd of Congolese faithful. Many in attendance—clad in garments bearing Kositi’s image and waving Congolese flags—celebrated what they called a monumental moment not just for the Catholic Church but for their country. A special audience with Pope Leo XIV is scheduled for the Congolese community on Monday.

Floribèrt, a 26-year-old official in Congo’s customs quality control department, was abducted and killed in 2007 after refusing to approve the shipment of spoiled rice from Rwanda into the city of Goma. His decision was rooted in a desire to protect vulnerable communities from consuming unsafe food, even though he was pressured with bribes and threats.

His friend Aline Minani reflected on his unwavering stance: “That day, those corrupt men were confronted by someone who, inspired by the Gospel, stood firm and said, ‘No.’ Floribèrt is a role model not just for me, but for every young person.”

Last year, Pope Francis formally recognized Kositi as a martyr for the faith, emphasizing his death as a testament to Christian moral conviction and public duty. This recognition enabled his beatification without the requirement of a miracle, a rare designation reserved for those who are killed out of hatred for the faith.

The significance of Kositi’s beatification goes beyond religion. In a nation where corruption is rampant, his moral courage has made him a symbol of resistance. Bishop Willy Ngumbi of Goma remarked, “If we can take even one lesson from his life, it’s that we must stand against corruption in every form.” The Transparency International Index ranks the Democratic Republic of Congo near the bottom, placing it 163 out of 180 countries globally for perceived corruption.

Francis’ 2023 visit to Congo underscored this issue, where he praised Kositi in a speech at Kinshasa stadium: “He could have stayed silent. He could have gone along with the system and no one would’ve noticed. But instead, he chose to act as a Christian—he prayed, reflected, and said no to the rot of corruption.”

The beatification has sparked hope across Congo, particularly in Goma, which is reeling from conflict with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. At St. Joseph Cathedral in Goma, crowds gathered to watch the live broadcast of the ceremony. Outside, vendors sold portraits and commemorative cloth adorned with Kositi’s image.

Olive Njemba, a 65-year-old woman close to Kositi’s family, celebrated: “His killers thought they had ended his story, but God has lifted him up. Today, we celebrate our son who has become Blessed.”

Inside the church, Abbé Célestin Kanyabiriri addressed the congregation: “Floribèrt’s legacy is not confined to the Church. He is an inspiration to all Congolese citizens. His beatification is a divine call to be apostles of integrity in a country where corruption has gnawed at the roots of governance.”

Rev. Francesco Tedeschi, the Italian priest who spearheaded Kositi’s cause for sainthood and knew him through their work with the Sant’Egidio Community, was visibly emotional as he remembered his friend: “Floribèrt was just a young man. But in him, we see the kind of ordinary holiness that Pope Francis speaks of—the ‘saints next door.’”

At the Floribert Bwana Chui School of Peace in Goma—named in his honor—director Charles Kalimba said the beatification was a vital moral lesson: “His life is a message to current and future generations. In a country where corruption is often accepted, his example is a challenge to all of us.”

The road to canonization now awaits one verified miracle attributed to Kositi’s intercession. But for many, he is already a saint in their hearts—a young man whose faith and moral clarity became an indestructible force for justice.

“He gave his life so others could live with dignity,” said Tedeschi. “That is the Gospel in action.”