Central African Republic: Pope meets Evangelical leaders

Pope Francis met with representatives of various evangelical communities in Africa, as he visited the Bangui Evangelical School of Theology on Sunday. In his address he stressed that "the lack of unity among Christians is a scandal, above all because it is contrary to God's will. It is also a scandal, he said, "when we consider the hatred and violence which are tearing humanity apart."

The full text of Pope Francis' address follows:

"Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am happy to be able to meet you in this Faculty of Evangelical Theology. I thank the Dean of the Faculty and the President of the Evangelical Alliance of Central Africa for their kind words of welcome. With fraternal affection I greet each of you and, through you, all the members of your communities. All of us are here in the service of the risen Lord who assembles us today; and, by virtue of the common baptism we have received, we are sent to proclaim the joy of the Gospel to men and women of this beloved country of Central Africa.

For all too long, your people have experienced troubles and violence, resulting in great suffering. This makes the proclamation of the Gospel all the more necessary and urgent. For it is Christ's own flesh which suffers in his dearest sons and daughters: the poorest of his people, the infirm, the elderly, the abandoned, children without parents or left to themselves without guidance and education. There are also those who have been scarred in soul or body by hatred and violence, those whom war has deprived of everything: work, home and loved ones.

God makes no distinctions between those who suffer. I have often called this the ecumenism of blood. All our communities suffer indiscriminately as a result of injustice and the blind hatred unleashed by the devil. Here I wish to express my closeness and solidarity to Pastor Nicholas, whose home was recently ransacked and set on fire, as was the meeting-place of his community. In these difficult circumstances, the Lord keeps asking us to demonstrate to everyone his tenderness, compassion, and mercy. This shared suffering and shared mission are a providential opportunity for us to advance together on the path of unity; they are also an indispensable spiritual aid. How could the Father refuse the grace of unity, albeit still imperfect, to his children who suffer together and, in different situations, join in serving their brothers and sisters?

Dear friends, the lack of unity among Christians is a scandal, above all because it is contrary to God's will. It is also a scandal when we consider the hatred and violence which are tearing humanity apart, and the many forms of opposition which the Gospel of Christ encounters. I appreciate the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation existing between the Christians of your country, and I encourage you to continue on this path of common service in charity. It is a witness to Christ which builds up unity.

With increasing intensity and courage, may you add to perseverance and charity, a commitment to prayer and common reflection, as you seek to achieve greater mutual understanding, trust and friendship in view of that full communion for which we firmly hope.

I assure you of my prayerful support along the path of fraternal charity, reconciliation and mercy, a path which is long, yet full of joy and hope.
May God bless you! May he bless your communities!"

During the day Pope Francis also visited a refugee camp for people displaced by the sectarian violence and told them: "we are all brothers, regardless of our ethnic or religious group." ... "We must work, pray and do everything possible for peace." But as he then went on to warn, "peace is not possible without love, without friendship, without tolerance and without forgiveness."

Speaking whilst surrounded by many children, the Pope told them he had read what they had written: "peace, forgiveness, unity and love." "My wish," he continued, "is that you can live in peace, regardless of your ethnic group, your culture, your religion and your social background... everybody living in peace because we are all brothers." He then urged those present to repeat the words "we are all brothers," saying it was for this reason that "we want peace."

Pope Francis also made a brief, unscheduled stop at a children's hospital. He met some of the patients and staff, and had brought some boxes of medicines, provided by Rome's 'Bambino Gesu' pediatric hospital.

Source: VIS/Vatican Radio