Pope Francis met on Monday with members of the Muslim community in the Central African Republic, which was infamous for sectarian violence and atrocities against Muslim minorities.
Pope Francis has told crowds gathered at the main mosque of Central African Republic's capital that Muslims and Christians are brothers, and must live as such.
On a rare trip into the volatile neighborhood known as PK5, the pope recalled how Christians and Muslims had long lived together peacefully in Bangui.
On Sunday, Pope Francis urged those using weapons to "lay down these instruments of death."
Earlier, the pope called for unity and for people not to allow religious differences to divide them. In remarks at the presidential palace in Bangui, Francis said he hopes upcoming elections will allow the country to "embark serenely on a new chapter of its history."
The violence has forced most of the capital's 122,000 Muslims to flee for their lives, with only 15,000 now remaining.
Francis had insisted on coming to the neighborhood to appeal for peace despite the security concerns.
/257