I come as a pilgrim of peace, says Pope as he arrives in Central African Republic

BANGUI, Central African Republic

Pope Francis Sunday arrived as "a pilgrim of peace" in conflict-ridden Central African Republic on Sunday, flying in from Uganda on what will be the most dangerous destination of his three-nation Africa tour.

Thousands of believers, many from neighbouring countries, are expected to pour into CAR's capital Bangui to see the 78-year-old pontiff on his landmark visit to one of Africa's poorest and most unstable countries.

"I come to the Central African Republic as a pilgrim of peace and as an apostle of hope," the pope said on his official Twitter feed as his plane touched down at around 10am (0900 GMT) at Bangui's international airport where he was greeted by acting CAR president Catherine Samba-Panza.

Ahead of his arrival, the roads leading to the airport were bristling with troops and security forces, an AFP correspondent said.

Close to the airport, tens of thousands of displaced people have sought refuge from the violence at a sprawling makeshift camp near to French and UN military bases.

Ahead of the pope's arrival, workers had been busily repairing potholes and sprucing up the cathedral square for the visit which many are hoping will bring encouragement to a country where religious violence that has raged for more than two years.

Rights groups hope the Argentinian pope will address the violence on his two-day trip during which he will visit a mosque in Bangui's flashpoint PK5 district, a maze of red dirt roads and flimsy shacks that has been at the heart of the sectarian conflict tearing apart the impoverished nation.

The area saw an unprecedented wave of violence pitting majority Christians against minority Muslims in late 2013 and early last year.

HE KNOWS ABOUT OUR COUNTRY

Pope Francis is also due to celebrate mass in the Barthelemy Boganda sports stadium and visit a camp for people who have been displaced by the violence.

Stalls have sprung up across the capital selling everything from Vatican flags to paper crowns to welcome the pope.

"We are very pleased to see the pope,” said Fidele Nodjindorom, who is sheltering at a camp in Bangui.

"He knows that things have happened in our country and maybe he has come to ask God to save us."

The Central African Republic was plunged into chaos after president Francois Bozize was ousted in a coup in March 2013.

A REAL OPPORTUNITY

At the height of the massacres, around one in five of CAR's 4.6 million people were displaced and half the population depended on humanitarian aid.

Violence continues to stalk the country, with at least 61 people killed in Bangui in late September before UN and French peacekeeping forces intervened.

Ilaria Allegrozzi of rights group Amnesty International said the pope "has a real opportunity to call for the protection of civilians of all faiths, and use his great moral authority to help reduce the tension that has recently resulted in deadly violence".

The pontiff left Uganda early Sunday, a day after huge crowds celebrated as he honoured Christians martyred for the faith on the second leg of his first trip to Africa, which he hailed as "the continent of hope".

He also offered prayers for "the beloved people of Burundi" that the troubled central African nation will end months of strife that has sparked fears of renewed civil war.