Strongly worded messages: The Pope condemns the exploitation of natural resources in Africa.
The Pope's speech in Angola.
Qusay Ahmed
Pope Leo Baba delivered a speech on Saturday in oil-rich Angola, the third stop on his African tour.
During the speech, he strongly condemned the exploitation of the continent's natural resources and criticized those he called "despots and tyrants" who promise riches but do not keep their promises, leading to suffering and death.
Free yourselves from slavery
The Pope called on the citizens of Angola to work towards a society free from “the slavery imposed by the wealthy elite who enjoy enormous riches but live in false bliss,” according to Reuters.
Upon arriving in Luanda, the capital of Angola, he expressed his regret that “influential parties are monopolizing” Angola’s natural resources.
Precious metals in Angola
The Pope's statement clearly refers to foreign companies that are profiting from Angola's oil and diamond sectors and its emerging strategic minerals sector.
The Pope continued, “People have always been interested in your lands, and still are… with the aim of seizing them… How much suffering, how many deaths, and how many social and environmental disasters result from this logic of extraction!”.
