Pope Francis in Africa to Address Religious Conflict

Pope Francis gave a message of peace and reconciliation to religious during his open-air mass in Nairobi Thursday.

He arrived in Kenya Wednesday for a six-day trip. Next stops are Uganda, and Central Africa to address a growing tension between Christians and Muslims in the area. His visit to Central Africa marks the first time the pontiff will set foot in an active war zone, according to the International Business Times. Central Africa has been ravaged by war brought by violent sectarian clashes. Muslim rebels overthrew the Central African Republic government in 2013. This prompted Christians to retaliate.

In a report by The Guardian, there were a million people who attended the mass. The Pope told members of Christians, Muslims, Hindu, Jewish, and Sikhs that religion shouldn't be used as an excuse to justify acts of Violence.

"All too often, young people are being radicalised in the name of religion to sow discord and fear, and to tear at the very fabric of society," said Pope Francis. "How important it is that we be seen as prophets of peace, peacemakers who invite others to live in peace, harmony and mutual respect."

Time reported that the first pontiff to visit the country was Pope Paul VI in 1969 in Uganda. During Pope Paul VI's visit, Uganda was one of the most christianized countries in Africa with 3 million Christians. Pope Francis is expected to retrace some of the route of his predecessor. During that time Paul's major concern was to bring peace in the Nigerian Civil War. Now, Pope Francis will also address a civil war. Pope Francis will celebrate mass on the Uganda Martyrs Shrine, where Paul also held Mass during his visit.

Pope Francis said Christians shouldn't immediately associate Islam with violence. However, the tension between the two faiths in the sub-Saharan region is expected to grow as the population is projected to increase drastically in the next decades. Christianity and Islam in the area will be two times more in 2050 compared to the figure in 2010. There will be a projected 1.1 billion Christians in 2050, from 517 million in 2010 in the region. Meanwhile, there will be 670 million Muslims in 2050, from 2010's 248 million.

Security will be heightened during the Pope's visit. The Pope's route will be contained in the capitals. He will be travelling in an open pope mobile, or a small car. His most hazardous stop will be at the Central African Republic capital of Bangui, where Muslim Seleka rebels and Christian anti-balaka militias have been waging war.