“Central Africans have inflicted unspeakable suffering on other Central Africans,” she said on meeting the pope in the capital, Bangui, where the situation remains volatile.
“On behalf of the ruling class of this country but also in the name of everyone who has played any part in this descent into hell, I confess all the evil that has been done here throughout the course of history and ask for forgiveness from the bottom of my heart.”
CAR descended into bloodshed more than two years ago after longtime leader Francois Bozize, a Christian, was ousted by mainly Muslim rebels, triggering the worst crisis since independence in 1960.
More than 12,000 peacekeepers are deployed in the impoverished former French colony — including in Bangui where Francis will spend just over 24 hours.
“You have chosen to visit a country destroyed to its very foundations by decades of repeated crises, a country which lives through dramatic events every day.
“You have come to demonstrate your compassion for and your solidarity with a people tormented by hate and the spirit of vengeance, a people torn by endless conflict but which, despite everything, has not completely lost its faith.”
[japantimes]
Central African Republic President, Catherine Samba-Panza asks pope’s ‘forgiveness’ for sectarian violence
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Oleh
Ukpe Thompson
