The Latest: Pope leaves Uganda for Central African Republic
By Associated Press
Nov 29, 2015 1:04 AM CST
Pope Francis reaches out to kiss a baby carried by an aide from the crowd, after leading a Holy Mass for the Martyrs of Uganda at the area of the Catholic Sanctuary in the Namugongo area of Kampala, Uganda Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015. Pope Francis is in Uganda on his first-ever trip to Africa, a six-day...   (Associated Press)

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The latest on Pope Francis' first trip to Africa. (All times local.)

___

10 a.m.

Pope Francis has left Uganda and is on his way to Central African Republic, the third and last leg of his pilgrimage to Africa.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and local Catholic leaders bid him farewell at the international airport in the lakeside town of Entebbe.

In Uganda, Francis honored the memory of a group of Christians, known as the Uganda Martyrs, who were killed in the late 19th century when they refused to renounce their faith. He urged the faithful to emulate the example of the 45 Anglican and Catholic martyrs.

He is now embarking on the most challenging part of the trip — Central African Republic is a country where violence between Christian and Muslim militants has forced nearly 1 million from their homes over the last two years and created a divided capital.

While sectarian clashes have left at least 100 people dead over the last two months, recent days have been relatively free of gunfire, and President Catherine Samba-Panza says the pope is being awaited as a "peace messenger."

— Rodney Muhumuza, Kampala

See 2 more photos