{UAH} Central African Republic counts on Pope Francis for a permanent solution

He has arrived there and the welcome has been very warmly cheerful and colourful! His calculation was infallibly correct! Hundreds of thousands of people have been cheering him wherever he has been, and they praise his resolution never to abandon them! Pope Francis is now in the Central African Republic where he is cheered as a potential redeemer. and all persons interviewed agree that with the Pope's presence in their war-torn nation things are rapidly changing given the immediate peaceful minute they enjoy now thanks to him. And they all agree that after his departure to Rome tomorrow Monday ( 30/11/2015 ) the country will start witnessing a new era of peace and mutual understanding! Indeed this is correct! The entire cross-section of the country is now in Bangui madly cheering the very great man! Moslems, Protestants, Catholics, Pentecostals, Animists, etc have all come and are all expecting something very important from him. And he has shown he is for them! Right from the welcoming ceremony at the airport up to the cathedral where he has just concluded a historical mass service, the Pope has been standing as a man of peace preaching love, reconciliation, and forgiveness! At the airport where the interim president asked for pardon for all the evil done to the country, the Pope requested the authorities to labour for unity, dignity, and labour, the three things written on the country's coat-of-arms! At the St Sauveur parish where he made his first stop after having been cheered on the street by several hundreds of thousands of people including thousanjds of pilgrims from all neighbouring countries, the Pope mingled very easily with the many refugees at the parish including 4000 displaced families to whom he offered comfort and a message of peace when he asked the crowds gathered around to repeat three times the following phrase : " We all want peace! "

After giving the blessing he got on his popemobile and was driven through streets and avenues awash with hundreds of thousands of cheering people.

He was also shown placards appealing for his action for peace. and at another refugee centre at St Joseph Mukasa parish there was much enthusiasm as the parishioners waved banners with messages thanking the Pope for having come with peace in their country!

He met the bishops and later he was driven to the Evangelical Church to meet the community there. he was answering to their invitation. Just as he will also visit the Central Mosque of Bangui to answer the invitation of the country's Chief Imam who has relentlessly worked together with the Archbishop of Bangui to try to find a peaceful solution to the conflicts.

At the end of the day the Pope went to the main Cathedral of Bangui to open the Holy Door marking the beginning of the Holy Year of Mercy which officially starts on December 8, 2015. Thousands of people had already gathered there and the cathedral had already been packed by  priests, the religious, the seminarists, civil authorities, diplomats, UN military officers, various religious leaders,etc.. About 2000 people were already in the cathedral, and thousands of people including the youth were following the events from outside. Dozens of foreign press personnel and scores of local journalists struggled to take pictures.

Several cardinals and about forty bishops were ready to concelebrate with the Pope who before entering the vast cathedral opened the ceremony with a prayer he recited in French. Adding that Bangui was now the world spiritual capital of mercy through prayer. He insisted on forgiveness, reconciliation and love. And he was applauded when he repeated in the local language " We want peace ! " when he opened the Holy Door those already inside, like those outside, uttered deafening cheers, ululations, etc..

He entered to start Mass in French ( which he speaks very well! ). The choir did wonders with their African melodies which reminded Nairobi and Nnamugongo! The Pope's sermon was interrupted several times with cheers, applauses and ululation! He began by greeting all in their diverse situations. He remarked that he had no money to offer them but he had his prayers to help them.

He reminded that God was stronger than everything and his power was invincible ( Applauses, ululation! )

In every situation God had the last word, and his word was always love and peace ( Applauses, ululation! )

Apply justice, love, and mercy and throw away all guns and weapons because they are simply instruments of death ( Applause, ululation! )

With God's tender kindness you'll come to reconciliation, forgiveness, love, and mercy. Amen!  ( A strong ovation with cheers, applauses and ululation! )

The sermon touched the Archbishop of Bangui, Msgr Dieudonné Nzapalainga, who since the beginning of the conflicts had been preaching peace, reconciliation, and love!

The enchanted congregation was in great rhythms to intone very loudly  the Credo ! And at the offering of peace to one another, a solemn moment ,at that Mass, one could see Christians exchanging very gracefully with their Moslem colleagues!

At the end of Mass the Archbishop of Bangui warmly thanked the Pope for the Mass and for having accepted to risk coming to the troubled country, and he qualified that as an authentic testimony of a merciful heart towards the people of the Central African Republic! He elaborated on the action of the episcopal conference and requested the pope to pray for them.

There was an exchange of gifts with very many presents given to the Pope.

Before going out the pope put on his stole, entered a confessional and heard some three confessions from the youth of Bangui. That was in light with the anticipated action for the Holy Year of Mercy.

When the confessions ended the Pope stood outside the cathedral near the main entry to hear a petition from a leader of the youth. In it he outlined the many negatives the youth face, adding that many of them would like to quit the country. In reply, the Pope instead advised them to fight against war and division. He insisted that the youth have got to know how to stage a resistance. The best way to resist was through prayer which brought a person close to God who was omnipowerful. The second was to work for peace becasue peace was constructed with man's life. And the third way was through forgiveness.

The Pope was very strongly cheered when he expounded his views to the entire assembly of thousands before the cathedral and many other thousands in the adjoining streets!

After having chatted for a while with the Archbishop in a moment that raised a laugh between the two the Pope got on his popemobile, and it was already night, and he was driven to the nunciature via crowded streets that gave him a rousing ovation throughout. Very many pilgrims came from the diaspora, and abroad, and also from all neighbouring countries such as Chad, the two Sudans, Congo-DRC, Congo- Brazzaville, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, etc..

Monday morning, before leaving for Rome, the pope will celebrate an open-air Mass in the city's stadium. some 30,000 cards have been distributed. Other faithful will follow from giant screens.

Many are convinced the Pope's risky trip to the country will produce the effects of a concrete dialogue which will finally help bring about peace in the country.

Central African Republic is rated the second poorest nation in the world yet its soils abound with lots of untapped minerals and are promising for agriculture!

When peace finally comes, the country will speed off for genuine development and prosperity!
Dr G.H. Kkolokolo ( Paris / France )

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