Meeting with Denis Mukwege

On 30 March, the Chaplain-President interviewed Dr Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Congolese gynecologist and campaigner against the rape of women and girls as a weapon of war in the eastern Congo. The interview was part of Jack’s academic research into Christianity in Africa with a particular focus on the Congo, which has a long, and often difficult history with Belgium. Jack, Dr. Mukwege and PhD candidate, Nathan Ngoy, had a most interesting and important conversation about the nature of religious belief in Congo, the links between traditional Congolese beliefs and Christianity, the violence of both European colonisers and African leaders in Congo, and ways in which the victims of rape can begin a process of healing with the support of medical professionals and the churches. Jack felt during this interview that he was in the presence of true human greatness.