Pope’s Central African trip to push through

Despite France’s security fears

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) — Pope Francis’ trip to Central African Republic, which has been rocked by strife between Christians and Muslims, is still scheduled to go ahead despite warnings from France of major security risks, Vatican sources said on Friday.

The former French colony descended into inter-religious violence two and a half years ago after mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power, sparking reprisal killings by Christian anti-balaka militias.

The pope is due to visit the country on Nov. 28-29 despite intensifying violence that has killed dozens in the capital Bangui since late September. His trip is scheduled to include a visit to a mosque in one of Bangui’s most dangerous districts.

French officials have said the pope and those who turn out to see him would be in danger and have hinted that the Vatican should consider scrapping the trip or scaling it back.

“We’ve informed the Vatican authorities that Pope Francis’ visit carries risks for himself and for hundreds of thousands of believers who could be there to see him,” a defense ministry source said in Paris.

One Vatican source said the pope “really wants to go and skipping it would be seen as a defeat.” Another Vatican source said he may be forced to shorten the trip or limit the venues to safer areas.

France has troops in the country but the defense ministry source said: “Our forces can secure the airport and provide a medical evacuation capacity in case of an accident” but no more than that.

Central African Republic’s political and religious leaders have sought to reassure the Vatican.

“The arrival of the pope will be a great blessing, and I want it to happen regardless of the fate reserved for us,” interim President Catherine Samba-Panza, a Christian, told French radio station RTL on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis has given a symbolic crucifix he received from Cuban leader Raul Castro to the Italian island of Lampedusa, which has become a hub for migrant arrivals, an Italian cardinal said Friday.

The giant cross, 3.6 meters high, presents Jesus crucified on wooden oars bound up by rope, to symbolize the harsh reality of migrants who have crossed, or failed to cross, seas aboard unseaworthy vessels.

It is the work of Cuban artist Alexis Leiva Machado, who goes by the name Kcho.

Castro, brother of iconic Cuban communist leader Fidel Castro, gave the crucifix to Pope Francis during his visit to the Vatican in May.