Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sorrow and offered prayers for the hundreds of people who lost their lives this week when a coltan mine collapsed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During his Sunday Angelus address, the Pontiff also remembered victims of severe storms in Mozambique, Portugal, and southern Italy.
The tragedy struck on Wednesday at the Rubaya mining site in North Kivu province, where a landslide caused multiple mine tunnels to collapse. Local authorities confirmed that at least 200 people perished in the disaster. Rubaya lies approximately 50 kilometers from Goma and falls under the temporary control of the M23 rebel group, whose appointed governor has halted artisanal mining in the immediate area for safety reasons.
Speaking to the faithful, Pope Leo XIV said, “I assure my prayers for the many victims of the landslide in a mine in North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. May the Lord sustain the people who suffer so much.” His words reflected solidarity with the families of the deceased and those impacted by the disaster.
The DRC government expressed condolences for the loss of life while condemning the M23 rebels for illegal and unsafe exploitation of the region’s mineral resources. The country is a global hub for coltan, a metallic ore used in smartphones, computers, and aircraft engines, and accounted for roughly 40 percent of global production in 2023. Former miners described the Rubaya site as a network of hand-dug tunnels within large open pits. Poor maintenance and the proximity of tunnels mean that a collapse in one section can trigger the failure of others.
In addition to the DRC tragedy, Pope Leo also prayed for communities hit by severe weather. Mozambique suffered at least 150 deaths and widespread destruction after torrential rains and flooding, affecting nearly one million people. Central Portugal was battered by Storm Kristin, which brought winds reaching 202 kilometers per hour and claimed at least six lives. Southern Italy also faced storm-related damage and disruptions.
Through his prayers, Pope Leo emphasized compassion and support for all affected, urging global attention to the suffering caused by both human and natural disasters.