Pope Visits Besieged Mosque in Most Dangerous Zone in Africa

Pope Francis ended his three-nation African tour Monday by taking one of the biggest risks during his palpacy as he visited a mosque under siege from armed Christian militias in Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic, calling on Christian and Muslims to put an end to hatred and violence.

Even in a warzone, Pope Francis rides in an open top vehicle pic.twitter.com/tphhea60cE

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) November 30, 201

"Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters," he said after a speech by Imam Tidiani Moussa Naibi, a local leader of the Muslim community trying to foster dialogue. "Those who claim to believe in God must also be men and women of peace," he said, adding that Christians, Muslims and followers of traditional religions had lived together in peace for many years.

The mosque is located in a zone called PK5, a district where over 15,000 Muslims, who have not fled Central African Republic's capital Bangui, have now sought refuge.

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The PK5 neighborhood has been cut off from the rest of the city for the past two months by a ring of so-called anti-balaka Christian militias, who block supplies from entering and Muslims from leaving.

The Pope’s trip into the area with his open popemobile and his speech from the mosque saw a heavy security presence by the Vatican and the United Nations’ peacekeeping forces.

Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters, and we must act as such.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) November 30, 201

There was U.N. peacekeepers with rifles and snipers looking out from the minarets, bulletproof vests and armored vehicles mounted with machine guns along the pope’s route.

The pope appealed for "an end to every act which, from whatever side, disfigures the face of God and whose ultimate aim is to defend particular interests by any and all means."

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The unrest in the country began in early 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in the majority Christian country, infuriating the Christian militias who sought revenge by targeting members of the minority Muslim community in the country. At least 100 people have been killed in PK5 since late September, according to right groups.

More than 20,000 Muslims gathered to listen to the Pope’s speech. "Together, we must say no to hatred, to revenge and to violence, particularly that violence which is perpetrated in the name of a religion or of God himself. God is peace, 'salam,'" the pope said, using the Arabic word for peace.

Pope Francis: "Rampant capitalism has taught us the logic of profit at all costs..." pic.twitter.com/S4neC5U3rx

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 29, 201

Meanwhile, Imam Naibi echoed the same sentiment the Pope evoked. "The relationship between our Christian brothers and sisters and ourselves is so deep that no maneuver seeking to undermine it will succeed," he told the pope.

The population of CAR is 4.6 million, 50 percent Christian, 15 percent Muslim and 35 percent with indigenous beliefs. Following a final mass in the capital, the pope flew back to Rome Monday afternoon.

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