Pope Francis calls for peace, reconciliation in Central African Republic

HARI SREENIVASAN:

Today, Pope Francis brought a message of peace and reconciliation to the Central African Republic, a majority Christian nation that has seen steady violence between Christians and Muslims during the past two years. This was the pope's final stop of an African tour that also took him to Uganda and Kenya.

Associated Press reporter Nicole Winfield is covering the trip. She joins me now via Skype from the capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui.

It's been quite some time since a pope walked into essentially an active war zone or a civil war zone.

NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press:

Yes, we were trying to think when the last time was.

Pope John Paul II made a very unexpected nine-hour stop in Khartoum about 20 years ago, and that is probably the closest that any pope has gotten to active fighting.

HARI SREENIVASAN:

And what did the pope do today? Where did he go?

NICOLE WINFIELD:

Ah.

Well, he arrived at the airport, which, in itself, is remarkable, a heavily armed airport. He flew in right over one of the displacement camps, where some of the people who have been uprooted by the fighting have settled.

He went then to the presidential palace. He went to a refugee camp, another one of these displacement camps, where he met with some of the residents. And he just finished celebrating mass at the cathedral.

HARI SREENIVASAN:

And so the tension is between Muslims and Christians in the country. What did the pope say to each group?

NICOLE WINFIELD:

Well, he — he had a majority Christian audience today so far.

But the message is the same to both: Lay down your weapons. Peace. Reconciliation.

He just now, in his homily, has told the faithful gathered in the cathedral that pardoning and forgiving one another is hard, it's the hardest thing to do, but Christians at least are called to love their enemies, and that that is what is necessary now.

HARI SREENIVASAN:

And how has he been received?

NICOLE WINFIELD:

The enthusiasm has been incredible.

This is a country that has been — as the president said, it's descended into hell over the past two years. And so I think, for the residents, just the fact that he came was remarkable. I don't think anyone really expected that he would. There were such serious security threats in the weeks and months leading up to this trip, that there were concerns that he would cancel, at least trim it back.

So, the fact that he arrived and the fact that he went five kilometers in an open Popemobile showed that he's not afraid and that he wanted to — just his presence to be here.

HARI SREENIVASAN:

Give us some perspective on how significant this fighting has been. There is a — pretty much an exodus of Muslims leaving that country.

NICOLE WINFIELD:

That's right.

And the Muslims who have remained in Bangui itself are essentially encircled in a quarter, the KM5 neighborhood of the capital. And they basically can't leave, because the Christian militia has — is essentially — has surrounded it for their own safety.

So, the Muslims who have stayed here are very much a besieged people. They are hoping also to hear some words from the pope, some words of encouragement for them. And they might get it tomorrow, when he goes into that quarter.

HARI SREENIVASAN:

All right, Nicole Winfield from the Associated Press, joining us via Skype from the capital of the Central African Republic, thanks so much.

NICOLE WINFIELD:

Thank you.