Pope in CAR: Christians, Muslims are Brothers
Earlier the pope called on warring parties in the CAR to lay down their weapons and support efforts to end sectarian conflict
Pope Francis is on his way back to the Vatican, ending his first African trip, which took him to three countries. He flew out of the Central African Republic early Monday afternoon following celebrating Mass before a huge gathering at the national stadium in the capital, Bangui. Earlier, at the main mosque in Bangui, the pope said Christians and Muslims are brothers. "Together we must say no to hatred, to revenge and to violence, particularly that violence which is perpetrated in the name of a religion or of God himself." He said his visit to the country, which has seen political conflict and clashes between Christian and Muslim militants, would be incomplete without meeting with the Muslim community. In his message at a Mass on Sunday, Pope Francis called on warring parties in the country to lay down their weapons and support efforts to end sectarian conflict. "Arm yourselves instead with righteousness, with love and mercy, the authentic guarantors of peace," he said at the Cathedral of Bangui. Earlier, the pope called for unity and for people not to allow religious differences to divide them. In remarks at the presidential palace in Bangui, Francis said he hopes upcoming elections will allow the country to "embark serenely on a new chapter of its history." Ahead of his arrival, President Catherine Samba-Panza said people see Pope Francis as a messenger of peace and hoped he would inspire a national push for Central Africans to accept each other. The CAR has endured nearly three years of violence since a mostly Muslim rebel group, the Seleka, overthrew President Francois Bozize in March of 2013. Killings by the Seleka triggered the rise of mainly Christian militias known as the anti-Balaka.