At least 15 people including a Catholic priest were killed in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR) on Tuesday, when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a church service.
After fleeing for their lives, as many as 1500 people – mostly Muslim civilians – are now stuck in a Catholic church in the southeast of the Central African Republic.
Pope Francis has offered prayers for peace and reconciliation for victims of sectarian violence in the Central African Republic, where 22 have been killed in the past week.