Thousands stood in the sun alongside Bangui’s dusty airport road to
greet the pope, many waving palm fronds in his honor. He rode most of
the 6 miles to the presidential palace in an open popemobile
Since late 2012, Central African Republic has been racked by a civil war
that has taken on an increasingly religious character, with armed
groups divided among Christians and Muslims
Pope France called on fighters waging a civil war here to lay down their weapons
and seek reconciliation, during a trip that raised concerns for the
pontiff’s safety and hopes that his visit would kick-start a stalled
peace process.
“The love of our enemies protects us from the
temptation to seek revenge and from the spiral of endless retaliation,”
he said during a Mass in the cathedral of the capital city of Bangui on
Sunday evening.
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