Ahead of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Visit to Africa later this month, Pope Francis has called on the Central African Republic’s warring parties to put an end to the violence, and has expressed his desire to open the Holy Door in Bangui Cathedral.
During his Angelus address Sunday at noon, the Holy Father expressed “strong worry” for the “painful episodes of the past days that have worsened the situation in Central African Republic.”
The Holy Father will visit the capitals of Kenya, Uganda and Central African Republic, Nov. 25-30, when he makes his first Apostolic trip to the continent where the Church is growing fastest in the world.
In addition to urging all the people of CAR to be «witnesses of peace» and to «work for reconciliation,» Francis reminded those in the «afflicted» and «tormented» nation of his closeness to them.
Francis also gave thanks for the Comboni missionary fathers at the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in the nation’s capital of Bangui who are helping those displaced, and expressed the solidarity of the Catholic Church to other religious denominations and to the entire African nation, as they work toward peace and overcoming division.
