Courtney McGrailDoubts have been raised over Pope Francis’ planned trip to the war-torn Central African Republic later this month.
Speaking at Sunday’s Angelus, the Pontiff called for the country’s warring opponents to “put an end to this cycle of violence”, and declared that he “hopes” to visit the beleaguered country.
Hitherto a papal visit over November 28-29 had been firmly scheduled as part of an African trip also including Kenya and Uganda.
80% of the Central African Republic’s 4.5 million people are Christian with 15% being Muslim.
Conflict began in 2013 when the Seleka rebel group was formed by Muslim military and political leaders who felt the new government had sidelined them for religious reasons.
More than 6,000 people have been killed since then, with 300,000 being left homeless and 400,000 becoming refugees.