'Apostle of hope' Pope Francis makes historic visit to Central Africa

Declaring himself as a "pilgrim of peace and an apostle of hope", Pope Francis arrived in Central African Republic (CAR), becoming the first pontiff in recent history to visit a war zone.

According to the Guardian, the pope was flanked by the Vatican security and armed UN peacekeepers during his 24-hour visit to the capital.

Since March 2013, a civil war between a Muslim minority and a Christian majority has been happening where thousands of people have been killed and about 1 million people displaced. Human rights violations disappearances, torture and endemic rape and sexual violence are also rampant.

Shortly after landing in the capital Bangui, the Pope in his address at the presidential palace, appealed to the people to not give in to "the temptation of fear of others, of the unfamiliar, of what is not part of our ethnic group, our political views or our religious confession".

While a UN helicopter hovered above, the Pope interacted with the masses by greeting and shaking hands with them as the Vatican's special protection unit tried to keep the swarming multitude at bay.