ROME, NOVEMBER 25, 2016 (CISA) – Central African Republic’s (CAR) new cardinal, Dieudonne Nzapalainga visited a Mosque in Rome as a way of promoting interreligious dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
The Italian Islamic Federation Vice President Sekekh Taib and the Director of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy, Abdellah Redouane, welcomed him at the Mosque November 22.
Cardinal Nzapalainga had earlier in the week outlined that as religious leaders in CAR, their motivation for working together was rooted in their faith and belief in the power of dialogue over guns.
“Our strength is speech, not weapons. We want to use it to empower consciences and create a climate of trust,” Vatican Radio quotes him as said.
The Cardinal’s visit to Rome’s Mosque accompanied by Imam Kobine Layama and the Evangelical Pastor, Philippe Sing-Na, both of the Central African Republic, is a sign of the religious leaders’ ongoing commitment to peace and interreligious dialogue.
Pope Francis named the Archbishop of Bangui as the new Cardinal to CAR October 9, a country whose security has been poor because of interreligious clashes.
Clashes in CAR are mainly between the Muslim Séléka rebel coalition and Christian anti-Balaka militia. The recent clashes in the town of Bria has led to more than 10, 000 people fleeing their homes and 16 people dead, Reuters reports.
