Ngou-Komba, the Virgin of Reconciliation
Central African Republic · Invocation of forgiveness
The Central African Republic
La Central African Republic It is one of the most fragile and forgotten countries in the world. The country has suffered decades of coup, guerrillas and humanitarian crises. Since 2013, a civil war between the Séléka (Muslim) coalition and the Anti- Balaka (Christian) coalition has led to tens of thousands of deaths and more than 600,000 displaced persons.
In this context of violence, devotion to Our Lady of Ngou-Komba - whose name means in sango (the local language) "Our Lady of Reconciliation"- has taken on a special urgency. The sanctuary, located on the outskirts of Bangui, is an explicit space for dialogue between the communities facing it.
The Shrine of Bangui
The sanctuary was visited by Pope Francis in November 2015, at the most tense time of the civil war. Francis was the first Pope to visit the Central African Republic. It symbolically opened the Holy Gate of Mercy in Bangui Cathedral, opening the Jubilee Year of Mercy eight days before in Rome. It was a gesture of solidarity with the suffering Church.
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