Pope Francis has indicated his planned visit to the Central African Republic this month could be cancelled if violence between Christians and Muslims worsens.
Speaking to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square, he called for an end to the "cycle of violence" in the country he is scheduled to visit late in November as part of a trip that will also take him to Kenya and Uganda.
The pontiff said he 'hoped' to visit the nation. Previously he simply said he would go.
A senior Vatican source said the phrasing was chosen because of the violence in the capital Bangui, where the Pope is scheduled to visit a mosque in one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods.
"If the situation worsens, he will not be able to go and he is aware of that," the source said.
Last Thursday, four people were killed by mobs, bringing last week's death toll to 11, including three negotiators for the Muslim Seleka alliance visiting Bangui for peace talks. .
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