Pope Francis has arrived in Central African Republic, making the final stop of his first trip to Africa.
Violence between Christian and Muslim militants in Central African Republic has forced nearly one million from their homes over the last two years and divided the capital city.
The precarious security situation in Bangui, the capital, raised the possibility in recent weeks that the pope could cancel his visit.
Less than a year ago, mobs beat Muslims to death in the streets, even decapitating and dismembering some.
While sectarian clashes have left at least 100 people dead over the last two months, in recent days Bangui has been relatively free of gunfire.
Many hope that the pope’s message of peace and reconciliation can encourage longer-term stability in this nation of 4.8 million.
As part of his trip, the pope plans to visit a camp for displaced people where Christians have sought refuge. He also will venture into the capital’s Muslim enclave, known as PK5, to meet community leaders and the uprooted.
Interim president Catherine Samba-Panza told reporters Saturday that the pope is being awaited as a “peace messenger.”
“Many Central Africans hope that the messages he will deliver will inspire a national mobilisation and realisation that Central Africans learn to accept each other again, learn to live together again and learn to go toward peace and reconstruction of their country,” she said.
At the displacement camp at Bangui’s airport, where thousands have lived for nearly two years, there is a sense that things now are the worst they’ve been since December 2013.
Sandrine Sanze and her family are now back for a second time after the recent clashes, having initially spent nine months at the airport camp.
“It is our prayer that with the pope’s visit that peace will return, we can go home and life can start anew,” she said, sitting on the ground outside her home of scrap metal that she and her husband dragged to the site.
The situation remains tense and fragile: Bangui’s archbishop travels into the city’s Muslim enclave under escort from armed peacekeepers.
The city of Bangui has long been under a nightly curfew of 8pm as gun battles have rung out after dark in the flashpoint neighbourhoods.
The United Nations sought to assure the Vatican that security was under control on the eve of the pope’s arrival.
The head of the UN operation, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, told Vatican Radio that UN peacekeepers and French troops were confident that they could keep the pope and his entourage safe.
PA