Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangui (Agenzia Fides) - “What is happening in Central Africa is not insuperable. If we help one another, listen to one another and respect one another the crisis can be overcome” this was said by Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga, of Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, during a meeting of a delegation of young Rwandans with the Transition President Catherine Samba-Panza. The Archbishop said “the example of Rwanda prepares us and teaches us to avoid the worst”.
The young Rwandans were invited to Central Africa following a visit made to Kigali by Central African religious leaders. “We went to see what happened in Rwanda and we invited these young people to come to visit our country” Bishop Nzapalainga recalled.
The Central African Republic is still in the process of exiting from a serious crisis which originated with clashes between former Seleka rebels and Anti Balaka militia which threw the country into chaos. On 15 September United Nations Organisation troops replaced the African Union mission MISCA until then deployed in the country.
Pope Francis, after the midday Angelus prayer on Sunday 14 September, said he hoped that the UN troops would guarantee “protection for the civilian population affected by the present conflict”. “May violence swiftly give way to dialogue – the Pope said – may the opposing parties set particular interests aside and work to enable every citizen whatever their ethnic origin or religion, to work together for the common good”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 16/9/2014).
