Bishops: Pope coming to Kenya with message of peace
Pope Francis shares a moment with Nairobi County Director of Communications Walter Mong’are shortly after a Mass at the Vatican. The pope received a brief on the state of preparedness ahead of his visit from the communication and protocol committee of the secretariat organising the papal visit later next month. PHOTO | NGPS
What you need to know:
- Fr Januarius Kioko, the coordinator of liturgy at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the pope will meet with Protestant, Hindu, Muslim and other religious leaders when he lands in Nairobi.
- It will be the first time a pope will visit Nairobi in 20 years. The last such visit was by Pope John Paul II in 1995. A sizeable population in Kenya identify themselves as Catholics.
- Fr Kioko declined to state the actual events and venues, saying they will be publicised later. But Pope Francis’s visit will be important for Kenya because it comes at a time when the country is facing security threats perpetuated by religious extremism.
Pope Francis will be coming with a message of reconciliation and peace when he tours Nairobi next month.
Yesterday, the Catholic Church said the pope will meet other religious leaders to discuss how different denominations should co-exist.
Fr Januarius Kioko, the coordinator of liturgy at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), said the pope will meet with Protestant, Hindu, Muslim and other religious leaders when he lands in Nairobi.
It will be the first time a pope will visit Nairobi in 20 years. The last such visit was by Pope John Paul II in 1995. A sizeable population in Kenya identify themselves as Catholics.
An advance itinerary shows that Pope Francis will also meet President Uhuru Kenyatta and other government officials, politicians and women and youth leaders, among others.
Fr Kioko declined to state the actual events and venues, saying they will be publicised later. But Pope Francis’s visit will be important for Kenya because it comes at a time when the country is facing security threats perpetuated by religious extremism.
“The Pope’s visit indicates Kenya is safe and we are excited to host him. He says he is excited to come and have Mass with us,” said Mr Walter Mong’are, director of communications for the Nairobi County government.
Fr Kioko, Mr Mong’are and Mr David Omwoyo, the executive secretary for social communications at the KCCB, spoke at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport yesterday on arrival from Rome, where they had gone as the communications team of the organising committee to officially present the invitation to the Pope.
“The pope has expressed confidence in the organising team. He plans to visit even without having to send a lot of logistical support ahead of him. That shows the kind of trust he has in Kenya," Mr Omwoyo added.
