BANGUI APRIL 21, 2017 (CISA) – The Catholic Church in Central African Republic has proposed a plan to create a village called Pope Francis as a meeting place for the various religious communities.
The project that is being studied by the Vatican delegation of experts for Central Africa, in collaboration with the Center for Religious Confessions of Central Africa (PCRC) is being done in commemoration of the Pope’s visit to the country in 2015, reported Fides.
“The Pope declared Bangui the spiritual capital of humanity. He opened a holy door in Bangui. It was the first time in the history of the Church that a holy door was opened outside the Vatican,” said Martin Nkafo Nkamitia, Director of the Department of Studies for the Promotion of Central African Cultures and head of the Vatican delegation of experts for Central Africa.
“These are insights that cannot be ignored. That is why we have thought of creating a permanent memory of Pope Francis’ visit to Central Africa, a village that will be the meeting point of all the religious communities in Central Africa. It is a big project but we will succeed,” he said.
The project was presented to CAR President, Faustin Archange Touadera, and to the mayor of Bangui, Blaise Nakombo, on the occasion of the appointment of Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Archbishop of Bangui, as Cardinal.
According to the Church in CAR Pope Francis’ visit that took place 29 to 30 November 2015 has had a strong impact in the Country, especially in fostering interreligious relations.
While in CAR, Pope Francis visited a mosque that was under siege from armed Christian militias in Bangui and delivered a message of peace and reconciliation.
The visit came towards the end of the Pope’s six-day Africa tour, which also included visits to Kenya and Uganda.
