Pope wraps up Africa visit with warning about religious conflicts

Pope Francis wrapped up his six-day trip to Africa in the war-torn Central Africa Republic on Monday by warning that religious conflicts are spawning civil war, terrorism and suffering throughout the continent. 


"Together we must say no to hatred, to revenge and to violence, especially violence perpetrated in the name of a religion or of God himself," the pope said in Bangui, the capital. 


Under heavy security, the pope celebrated a mass at a stadium in Bangui and visited the Koudoukou mosque in a violence-riddled neighborhood where Bangui’s Muslims have been unable to leave for months because armed Christian militia fighters have surrounded it. 


Despite the security risks, the pope traveled in an open-air vehicle and received an exuberant welcome. "I want to thank him because he has preached peace," said Nasra Yamashia, a mother of five who lives in the St. Joseph Mukasa refugee camp outside Bangui. 


Francis’ remarks dovetailed with themes he sounded at the outset of his trip in Kenya last week. 


"Tribalism. It can destroy. It can mean having your hands hidden behind your back and having a stone in each hand to throw to others," the Pope told a group of Catholic youths in Nairobi on Friday.


"You can ask yourself: Is this path to destruction or is it an opportunity to overcome this challenge for me, my family and as a member of this country," asked Pope Francis. "We don’t live in heaven, we live on earth and earth is full of difficulties. You have the capacity to choose which path you want to follow, the path of opportunity or of division." 


He also called for governments to distribute wealth in a socially responsible manner that curbs, rather than exacerbates, divisions between people

Source: NNA