During the early 2000s, bribery was a common part of serving as a public official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was how business was conducted, often making life more miserable for the poorest of the country.
Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi was serving at the time as an official with the Congolese government’s custom’s quality control office.
In 2007, Floribert was expected to approve spoiled rice to be delivered to the poor. He was even offered bribes to ensure that everything was delivered without delay.
However, Floribert refused to accept any bribe and wanted to be honest in everything he did. He did not want to send poor people contaminated food, and refused to accept any money to turn a blind eye.
That honesty cost him his life, as he was kidnapped and killed for refusing the bribe on July 8, 2008.
Pope Francis recognized him as a martyr killed in "hatred of the faith." His dedication to truth was what cost him his life.
Floribert was officially beatified in Rome on June 15, 2025, at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
Faithful Catholic and member of Sant’Egidio
Floribert was a faithful Catholic and an active member of the Catholic lay Community of Sant’Egidio, working in Goma. He is the first member of this community to be beatified.
Pope Leo XIV commented on how Floribert lived out the charism of Sant’Egidio in an address after the beatification:
He lived the spirituality of the Community of Sant’Egidio, that Pope Francis summarized with three “Ps ”: prayer, poor, peace. The poor were decisive in his life.
Blessed Floribert lived a committed familiarity with street children, driven to Goma by war, despised and orphaned. He loved them with the charity of Christ: he was interested in them and worried about their human and Christian formation. Floribert's strength grew in faithfulness to prayer and the poor.
A friend remembers: "He was convinced we were born to do great things, to affect history, to transform reality."
Pope Francis also remembered his virtuous life when visiting the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2023:
I think of the witness given by a young person like yourselves, Floribert Bwana Chui, who fifteen years ago, at only twenty-six years old, was killed in Goma for having blocked the passage of spoiled foodstuffs that would have been harmful for people’s health. He could easily have turned a blind eye; nobody would have found out, and he might even have gotten ahead as a result. But, since he was a Christian, he prayed. He thought of others and he chose to be honest, saying no to the filth of corruption. That is what it means to keep your hands clean, for hands that traffic in easy money get stained with blood. If someone offers you a bribe, or promises you favours and lots of money, do not fall into the trap.
His example reminds us to stay firm in our faith, no matter how much money or other temptations may pass our desk, inviting us to turn a blind eye.
Blessed Floribert is regarded as a martyr of "honesty," for his ability to stand firm in his faith, even when he knew that being honest might cost him his life.
