Pope Leo XIV has called on the international community to strengthen efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak currently spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while urging affected communities to play an active role in prevention and response efforts.
In a message delivered on Sunday, August 23, 2026, following the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV expressed concern over the continued spread of Ebola in the DRC and the number of lives lost to the disease.
“During my prayers, I often think of the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially because of the spread of the Ebola epidemic, which unfortunately continues to claim many lives,” he said.
In a message also shared on X, Pope Leo XIV urged the international community to step up support for the DRC in its response to the outbreak, while stressing the importance of involving people living in affected areas.
“I encourage the international community to take action and involve people from affected communities in prevention efforts, so that many lives can be saved,” he said.
More Than 2,500 People Reportedly Killed by Ebola
The Pope’s appeal comes as health authorities in the DRC and international partners remain concerned about the growing Ebola outbreak.
Since Ebola re-emerged in the DRC in May 2026, health authorities say more than 2,500 people have died from the disease.
The virus has spread to five provinces of the DRC, prompting the government and its international partners to step up efforts to strengthen prevention and response measures.
On Thursday, August 20, a programme known as “Congo River Without Ebola” (Fleuve Congo Sans Ebola) was launched in Kinshasa to strengthen surveillance and the response to Ebola and other diseases with epidemic potential.
The initiative focuses particularly on the waterway connecting Kisangani in Tshopo Province to Kinshasa.
The “Congo River Without Ebola” programme is being implemented by the DRC government in partnership with international organisations including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
70,000 Ebola Vaccine Doses Expected
As part of efforts to contain the spread of Ebola, the WHO has announced that the DRC is expected to receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine.
Of these doses, 20,000 will be used in a high-level research study aimed at determining whether the Ervebo vaccine can provide protection against the Ebola virus species known as Bundibugyo, which is responsible for the current outbreak.
The remaining 50,000 doses will be administered to healthcare workers and other frontline personnel, particularly those who may be exposed to the virus through their work.
So far, there is no officially approved vaccine or treatment specifically indicated for preventing or treating the Bundibugyo Ebola virus.
However, laboratory studies suggest that the Ervebo vaccine may provide some level of protection against this strain of the virus.
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