Pope says Christians, Muslims are ‘brothers’ in war-torn Central African district

AFP (BANGUI, Central African Republic): Pope Francis on Monday (30) said Christians and Muslims were “brothers”, urging them to reject hatred and violence while visiting a mosque in the Central African Republic’s capital which has been ravaged by sectarian conflict.

On the last leg of a three-nation tour of Africa, the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholic visited a flashpoint Muslim neighbourhood in Bangui, where tensions remain high after months of violence on what was the most dangerous part of his 24-hour visit.

Thousands of people gathered at the roadsides, cheering as his popemobile drove down the red dirt roads in a truly festive atmosphere. As his vehicle passed, many waving Vatican flags and dressed in long traditional robes ran down the road after it, an AFP correspondent said.

“Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters,” he said after meeting Muslim leaders at the central Koudoukou mosque in the PK5 district, the last Muslim enclave in Bangui.

“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 to his mostly-Muslim audience who were sitting on the floor, listening quietly.

Several hundred people packed into the mosque, including a number of people actually living there after being forced out of their homes by the violence. “We are very proud to welcome him, the pope is not only for the Christians, he is a servant of God for all Central Africans,” said Ibrahim Paulin, a spokesman for the displaced.

Francis said his visit to the war-torn nation “would not be complete if it did not include this encounter with the Muslim community,” saying all those who believed in God “must be men and women of peace.”

There were also Catholic and evangelical residents among the crowd, with up to 500 Christians still living in the district.

The 78-year-old pontiff has hammered home a message of peace and reconciliation during his visit to Central African Republic, which will end with a huge mass at the capital’s 20,000-seat Barthelemy Boganda Stadium.

His message – and the fact that he actually visited the country despite significant security concerns – struck a chord with locals and drew pledges of peace and forgiveness.

“We should eat together, we should live together with Muslims,” said Clarisse Mbai, a mother who lost all her possessions in inter-religious violence. “They looted everything, they burnt my house and I have nothing but I am ready to forget,” she said.