See Why Pope Francis May Cancel Trip to Central African Republic

 

Pope Francis indicated this on Sunday stating that his planned visit to the Central African Republic in the month could be cancelled if violence between Christians and Muslims there worsens.

Speaking to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, he called for an end to the “cycle of violence” in the country he is scheduled to visit Nov. 28-29 as part of a trip that will also take him to Kenya and Uganda.

Francis spoke of the “trip I hope to be able to make to that nation”. He has previously simply said he would go.

A senior Vatican source said the phrasing was chosen because of the violence in the capital Bangui, where the pope is scheduled to visit a mosque in one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods.

“If the situation worsens, he will not be able to go and he is aware of that,” the source said.

Apart from threatening the pope’s visit, the violence might wreck plans to hold long-delayed elections in December.