Brazzaville: A sacred sanctuary was turned into a scene of horror as rebel forces unleashed a violent assault on a Catholic church in the troubled Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On July 21, armed militants belonging to the notorious CODECO militia stormed the St. John Capistrano Church in the remote village of Lopa, wreaking havoc and desecrating sacred symbols, including the Holy Rosary, which they deliberately destroyed.
The brutal act of sacrilege saw the church's sacristy shattered, religious artifacts smashed, and the revered Rosary violently thrown to the ground. Local parishioners and clergy watched in anguish as a space dedicated to prayer and peace was reduced to debris under the rebels' onslaught.
The mayhem did not stop at the church walls. The nearby villages of Lopa and Nisi bore the brunt of the wider raid, with at least three confirmed fatalities, multiple homes looted, and widespread fear taking root. While earlier local reports suggested the death toll might reach 21, officials have so far confirmed three deaths directly linked to the attacked parish.
Shockingly, the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and the UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) had a presence in the area at the time of the attack, but their proximity failed to prevent the tragedy a fact drawing serious scrutiny and questions about their effectiveness.
In the wake of the destruction, the local Catholic leadership has made an urgent appeal to the public prosecutor in Bunia to initiate a thorough investigation and ensure those responsible face justice. In a strongly worded statement, the Church emphasized that it stands not as an enemy but as a force for peace and reconciliation in the region. "We are not combatants. We are builders of unity and guardians of hope," a church representative declared, urging all armed factions to lay down weapons and pursue peace through dialogue.
Across Congo and beyond, outrage is mounting over the desecration of the Holy Rosary a sacred emblem of prayer for millions of Catholics worldwide. The faithful community is demanding swift and strong action to defend religious freedom and restore sanctity to their worship spaces. As tensions rise, the people of Lopa now face the painful task of rebuilding not only their physical church but their shaken sense of safety and spiritual solace.