Pope Francis to spend 33 hours in war-torn Central African Republic

Despite continued instability and outbreaks of violence in the Central African Republic, the Vatican announced Pope Francis will spend about 33 hours in the country during the upcoming visit to Africa.

Releasing the schedule for the trip, the Vatican said that while Pope Francis is in the Central African Republic between 29-30 November, he will visit a refugee camp, hold a meeting with evangelical Christians and visit a mosque in Bangui, the nation's capital.

The country has known little peace or development in its 55 years of independence. In March 2013, a rebel movement, Seleka, led by Arab-speaking Islamists, suspended the nation's constitution.

French and African peacekeepers were deployed in January 2014 and the rebels were driven out of the capital.

 

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The National Reconciliation Forum, convened by the country's transitional parliament in May, has been trying to bring Seleka and its Christian-dominated rival, Anti-Balaka, into talks and preparations for elections that originally were scheduled for 18 October.

The vote, however, was postponed after violence broke out again in late September.

Kenya is the first stop on Pope Francis' first visit to Africa as Pope; there, too, he will meet with ecumenical and interreligious leaders, but he also will visit the Kangemi slum on the outskirts of Nairobi.

Traveling to Uganda on 27 November, Francis will honour the memory of the 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic Ugandan martyrs, killed for their faith on the orders of King Mwanga II between 1885 and 1887.

 

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Full schedule of Pope Francis' visit to Africa 25-30 November

Wednesday 25 November (Rome / Nairobi)

(All times local (Nairobi, Kenya): -4 hours Rome, -3 hours London, -8 hours New York, +5 hours Hong Kong, +8 hours Sydney)

7.45am Departure from Rome's Fiumicino airport.

5pm Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, followed by a welcoming ceremony at Kenya's State House.

6pm Courtesy visit with Kenya's president at the State House.

6:30pm Meeting with Kenyan government officials and members of the diplomatic corps at the State House. Speech by Pope.

Thursday 26 November (Nairobi)

8:15am Meeting with interreligious and ecumenical representatives at the apostolic nunciature in Nairobi. Speech by Pope.

10am Mass on the campus of the University of Nairobi. Homily by Pope.

3:45pm Meeting with priests, religious and seminarians on the sports field of St Mary's School. Speech by Pope.

5:30pm Visit to the United Nations Office in Nairobi. Speech by Pope.

Friday 27 November (Nairobi / Entebbe, Uganda)

8:30am Visit to the Kangemi neighborhood in Nairobi. Speech by Pope.

10am Meeting with youths at Kasarani Stadium. Speech by Pope.

11:15am Meeting with the bishops of Kenya in the stadium's VIP room.

3:10pm Farewell ceremony at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

3:30pm Departure from Nairobi for Entebbe, Uganda.

4:50pm Arrival at Entebbe International Airport.

5:30pm Courtesy visit with the president of Uganda in the State House in Entebbe.

6pm Meeting with Ugandan authorities and members of the diplomatic corps in the conference room of the State House. Speech by Pope.

7:15pm Visit to Munyonyo and meeting with catechists and teachers. Greeting by Pope.

Saturday 28 November (Namugongo / Kampala)

8:30am Visit to the Anglican martyrs' shrine at Namugongo.

9:00am Visit to the Catholic martyrs' shrine at Namugongo.

9:30am Mass for the martyrs of Uganda near the Catholic shrine. Homily by Pope.

3:15pm Meeting with young people at the Kololo airstrip in Kampala. Speech by Pope.

5pm Visit to the Nalukolongo House of Charity. Greeting by Pope.

6pm Meeting with the bishops of Uganda in the Archbishop's residence.

7pm Meeting with priests, religious and seminarians in Kampala's cathedral. Speech by Pope.

Sunday 29 November (Entebbe / Bangui, Central African Republic)

9am Farewell ceremony at Entebbe airport.

9:15am Departure for Bangui.

10am Arrival at M'Poko International Airport in Bangui. Welcoming ceremony.

11am Courtesy visit with the country's transitional president in the presidential palace.

11:30am Meeting with leaders and with the diplomatic corps. Speech by Pope.

12:15pm Visit to a refugee camp.

1pm Meeting with the bishops of the Central African Republic.

4pm Meeting with evangelical communities at the evangelical theological school in Bangui. Speech by Pope.

5pm Mass with priests, religious, catechists and youths in the Bangui cathedral. Homily by Pope.

7pm Hearing the confessions of some young people and beginning a prayer vigil outside the cathedral. Speech by Pope.

Monday 30 November (Bangui / Rome)

8:15am Meeting with the Muslim community at the Koudoukou mosque in Bangui. Speech by Pope.

9:30am Mass in the Barthelemy Boganda Stadium. Homily by Pope.

12:15pm Farewell ceremony at M'Poko International Airport.

12:30pm Departure for Rome.

6:45pm Arrival at Rome's Ciampino airport.