(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 1 - Pope Francis on Wednesday condemned the massacres and rapes in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo over recent decades, telling present victims and their absent perpetrators "may God have mercy on us all".
    In the name of God, "I condemn the armed violence, massacres, rapes, destruction and occupation of villages, plundering of fields and livestock that continue to be perpetrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo", the Pope said this while meeting the victims in the east of the country.
    "I turn to the Father who is in heaven" and "humbly lower my head and, with sorrow in my heart, I ask his forgiveness for the violence of man on man. Father, have mercy on us.
    "Console the victims and those who suffer. Convert the hearts of those who commit cruel atrocities, which bring infamy upon all humanity!" (ANSA).