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Pope prays for victims of Central Africa massacre
VATICAN CITY, Nov 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Pope Francis on Sunday prayed for
peace in the war-ravaged Central African Republic, where two priests were
killed in ethnic unrest last week.
“I learned with sadness the news of the massacre two days ago in a camp
for the displaced in the Central African Republic, where two priests were
also killed,” the pope said during Angelus prayers at the Vatican.
“Let us pray for the dead and the wounded and for all violence to end in
this beloved country so much in need of peace,” he said on the World Day of
the Poor.
Sectarian clashes in the central town of Alindao claimed at least 37 lives
last week, including those of two priests.
The United Nations said that some 20,000 people were affected by the
violence. “Thousands” were forced to flee.
The bloodbath began on Thursday when Christian militiamen killed Muslims,
prompting revenge attacks.
A church was also burnt.
One of the world’s poorest nations despite a rich supply of diamonds and
uranium, CAR has struggled to recover from a 2013 civil war that erupted when
President Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown by mainly Muslim
Seleka rebels.
BSS/AFP/RY/1832 hrs