His visit here has been portrayed as the centerpiece of his first trip to Africa, a 5-day journey that also took him to Kenya and Uganda.
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A Muslim man takes a picture before Pope Francis meets with Koudoukou Mosque’s Imam Tidiani Moussa Naibi in Bangui, Central African Republic, November 30, 2015.
Francis also visited Kenya on his trip, where he denounced the radicalisation of young people, citing “barbarous attacks” by Islamic extremists in Nairobi, Garissa and Mandera.
“Those who claim to believe in God must also be men and women of peace”, he said, noting that Christians, Muslims and followers of traditional religions had lived together in peace for many years.
According to the Pew Research Center, Africa has the fastest-growing population of Catholics and Muslims in the world, with both Islam and Christianity expected to have more than twice as many adherents in the region by 2050 as they did in 2010.
A few minutes before Pope Francis and his entourage left the Kampala airport in Uganda, he reportedly told the pilot that he’d like to go to the Central African Republic (C.A.R.), but if it was too hard, the pilot should just fly over and he’d parachute down.
Pope Francis arrived at the cathedral after a meeting with representatives of the Central African Republic’s evangelical and Protestant communities. “For all of us are God’s children”, Francis said in his pre-trip message.
As reported by Yahoo News, issues like poverty, migration, sickness and war are attributed to global warming, Pope Francis says. Two pickup trucks pulled up in the middle of the crowd shortly before the pope’s arrival and a group of Muslim vigilantes from PK5 leapt out, wearing T-shirts bearing the pope’s image, as people cheered and – referring to the conflict – shouted “it’s over”.
Central African Republic descended into chaos in early 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in the majority Christian country, sparking reprisals from Christian militias.
Francis reminded the Muslims in the mosque that the origins of the conflict weren’t religious and urged them to put aside their differences.
Travelling in his modest popemobile, a light utility vehicle, the Pope was under heavy guard by United Nations peacekeepers and Vatican security. Regarding the possibility of another visit to African in the future, he said: “I don’t know; I’m old and travel is tiring”.
The PK5 neighborhood has been cut off from the rest of the city for the past two months by a ring of so-called anti-balaka Christian militias, who block supplies from entering and Muslims from leaving.
“I have Muslim friends I haven’t seen for a year”, said Viviane Nzafeo, 42, who waited on the side of the road for the pope to drive by.
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The pope grudgingly admitted condoms are “one of the methods” which could prevent the spread of the HIV virus that causes AIDS, but was not pleased by the topic being raised.
