Central African Republic

November 29, 2015

Pope in Bangui: Open the doors of mercy, counter violence with love

Pope Francis opens the Holy Door at the start of a Mass with priests, religious, catechists and youths at the cathedral in Bangui, Central African Republic, Nov. 29.

BANGUI, Central African Republic - Put down the weapons of war and work for justice, Pope Francis urged the people of the Central African Republic.

Published in Francis in Africa

November 29, 2015

Pope arrives in violence-torn Central African Republic preaching peace

Pope Francis greets children as he visits a refugee camp in Bangui, Central African Republic, Nov. 29.

BANGUI, Central African Republic - Despite serious security concerns for Pope Francis and for those who would come to see him, the pope landed in Central African Republic Nov. 29 saying he came as "a pilgrim of peace."

Published in Francis in Africa

November 25, 2015

Pope Francis’ Africa trip will focus on youth, but security concerns abound

A French peacekeeping soldier patrols the streets of Bangui, Central African Republic, in 2013.

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis embarks Wednesday on his first trip to Africa, visiting three countries in a papal tour overshadowed by security concerns.

Published in International

November 11, 2015

Security a top concern for Pope Francis’ Africa visit

Peacekeeping troops escort a humanitarian aid convoy in mid-February in Bangui, Central African Republic. Catholic Church leaders and Kenyan officials say that security is a top concern for Pope Francis’ Nov. 25-30 African visit.

NAIROBI, Kenya - From stitching 2,000 vestments to training large-scale security teams, Catholic Church leaders and Kenyan officials say they’re ready to host Pope Francis.

Published in Vatican

November 8, 2015

Central African Republic: Comboni hopes Pope visit will stop violence

Peacekeeping troops escort a humanitarian aid convoy in mid-February in Bangui, Central African Republic. A Comboni missionary in the country, recounting the violence taking place around his parish in the capital, expressed hope that Pope Francis' planned visit would open people's hearts to God's love and "renew the face of this beautiful country drenched in blood."

VATICAN CITY - A Comboni missionary in the Central Africa Republic, recounting the violence taking place around his parish in the capital, expressed hope that Pope Francis' planned visit would open people's hearts to God's love and "renew the face of this beautiful country drenched in blood."

Published in International

November 2, 2015

Despite violence, Pope says he hopes to visit Central African Republic

An internally displaced man stands in front of his makeshift house at a camp in Bambari, Central African Republic, Oct. 17. Despite ongoing violence in the African nation, Pope Francis said he hopes to be able to visit the country in late November and to anticipate the Year of Mercy by opening the Holy Door of the cathedral in Bangui, the nation's capital.

VATICAN CITY - Despite ongoing violence in the Central African Republic, Pope Francis said he hopes to be able to visit the country in late November and to anticipate the Year of Mercy by opening the Holy Door of the cathedral in Bangui, the nation's capital.

Published in International

October 25, 2015

Central African Republic faith leaders hope Pope helps with peace

African cardinals and bishops participating in the Synod of Bishops on the family gather for a meeting in Rome Oct. 7.

OXFORD, England - Religious leaders in the Central African Republic have predicted the Pope's upcoming visit could reconcile opposing factions, three years after a Muslim-led rebellion plunged the country into civil war.

Published in International

February 27, 2015

Central African archbishop compares his people to Israelites in desert

A French soldier stands guard in 2014 outside St. Joseph Cathedral in Bambari, Central African Republic. A church leader confirmed Pope Francis will visit the Central African Republic later this year in an effort to end two years of intercommunal conflict.

BANGUI, Central African Republic - An archbishop in Central African Republic compared citizens of his country to the people of Israel wandering in the desert and urged them to use the Pope's planned autumn visit to escape from their "prolonged crisis."

Published in International

January 23, 2015

Church in Central African Republic readies plans for papal visit

French troops lead a disarmament operation in Bangui, Central African Republic in February during what has been called a humanitarian crisis. The country's church leaders emphasized the "need for healing from the trauma people have experienced," said Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, who visited South Sudan and the Central African Republic July 10-21.

OXFORD, England - Pope Francis plans to visit the Central African Republic late this year in an effort to end two years of intercommunal violence, the vice president of the country's bishops' conference confirmed.

Published in International

May 29, 2014

Church in Central African Republic wants more protection from peacekeepers after attack

OXFORD, England - The Catholic Church in the Central African Republic pleaded for firmer action by United Nations-backed peacekeepers after an attack on a Bangui church left the parish priest and at least 14 worshippers dead.

Published in International