He has shunned the
princely trappings of the papacy, epitomizes humility and modesty. He is
arguably the world’s most loved religious leader. In his first ever visit to
Africa and the first nation to set foot on, Kenya, he awed the world with his
humility and meekdemeanor. He even chose to celebrate mass in a slum setting,
Kangemi, in St Joseph The Worker Catholic Church. He identified with the low in
the society, those that we profile as poor! His love for the poor and
down-trodden shone in his humble gesture. He is Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario
Bergoglio, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to an Italian immigrant.
When he touched down
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, aboard Italian Airliner, “Shepherd One”,
Pope Francis chose to drive in a Honda Ballade, on his way to State House, as
he greeted jubilant Kenyans lined up along the roads to catch a glimpse of The
Pontiff. The meekness and humility of a true servant of God was shown to the
entire nation, contrary to the lavish, flashiness and obsession for fuel
guzzlers like Range Rovers, Chryslers and hefty security detail that are the
other name for Kenyan religious charlatans, disguised as pastors! The very men
and women who perpetuate social injustice instead of fighting it. They rob
Kenyans economically and spiritually, destroy their marriages all in the name
of religion. We all know the stinking scandals that they treat us to each day.
They preach the Gospel of Prosperity and to them humility and meekness are a non-existent
vocabulary. Well, God through Pope Francis ashamed them! No wonder, the so-called
pastors were aloof and missing in action in the entire
Pontiff’s voyage to Kenya. To Pope Francis, love for the poor, humility, care
for the environment and building a just society are the pinnacle of
Christianity, contrary to the same Word of God, that pastors intentionally
manipulate to suit their business needs, driving Kenyans to death, spiritually
and financially and sadly sleeping around with married women!
Pope Francis castigated
land grabbers and private developers who do so at the expense of the poor.
Remember, the Langata Road Primary school land saga with Weston Hotel, when
innocent kids were teargased by
police as they peacefully demonstrated? Well, he revisited this when he decried
the fact that even children’s playgrounds are being grabbed! To the
perpetrators of this evil, Pope Francis had no kind words for them. He stood
brave and told them in the eye that this acts were evil and abhor able. He
spoke against corruption that as we all agree, has reached unprecedented levels,
especially under the JUBILEE watch and the blatant funds misappropriation by
the County governments.
In his Friday
mid-morning address to the youth at Safaricom Stadium Kasarani, Pope Francis
famously said that ‘corruption is the way to death’. He condemned this evil
vice, and appealed to the youth to shun it, build a justet all-inclusive
society that is the very wish and desire of God, our Father. In his apt
message, Pope Francis added that we all had a choice to make between doing the
wrong and right. The ball is in our hands as a nation’s youth.Well put, the
Pontiff came with a message of hope for the youth, to stand strong in the face
of challenges such as tribalism, corruption, lack of employment and many others
that are an agonizing threat to the youths.
In winding up his first
ever itinerary in Africa, Pope Francis went to neighboring Uganda and the
war-torn Central African Republic (CAR). Totalitarian government under
President Museveni has ruled but not led Uganda and a vicious religion-fueled
civil war has divided Muslims and Christians in CAR. But Pope Francis did what
many religious leaders at best fathom at; he flew into war torn city, over
gravely dangerous air-space and even prayed with Muslims! Perfect example that
our religious leaders ought to follow, in order to ease the ever rising global
tensions between Muslims and Christians. He took off his shoes and entered the
Mosque in Bangui, prayed with local muslims and taught us all that after all,
religious differences are our major undoing, God is one. Fundamentalism is
rooted in all religions but above all as the Pontiff said, it lacks God!
He bravely condemned
corruption that is so rife in Kenya, urged Kenyans to fight ethnicity and also
do more to conserve the environment, met all religious leaders in Kenya, and
breathed new life into Kenyans. He also preached a message of hope, reconciliation,
compassion, political and religious tolerance in Kenya, Uganda, CAR and the
entire continent.
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