THE HOLY FATHER appealed to all sides involved in Ivory Coast’s 15-month-old civil war to lay down their weapons.
The Pope made his remarks on Saturday when he received in audience the west African country’s new ambassador to the Holy See.
“May the dialogue of weapons make room for the weapons of dialogue,” the Pontiff said in the address he delivered to career diplomat Kouame Benjamin Konan.
Ivory Coast was plunged into civil war in September 2002. The country is struggling for political and institutional stability, despite last year’s Paris agreement, which lead to the establishment of a government of national unity.
“I profoundly desire that the process of national reconciliation continue and be intensified,” the Pope said.