Africa is waiting for Pope Francis

Africa is waiting for Pope Francis

Excitement is building-up in East Africa as Pope Francis’ planned visit to the region approaches.

Pope Francis is set to visit Kenya between 25 November and 27 November 2015 and then proceed to Uganda between 27 and 29 and lastly to the Central African Republic between 29 November  and 30 November 2015.

In Kenya, the Government is keen to host the Holy Father whose visit it hopes will inspire Kenyans to become more united. In a statement sent to newsrooms on 18 September 2015, the Government said Pope Francis would be accorded all the honours of a visiting head of state in his capacity as the Vatican’s head of state.

In Kampala, Uganda, the Chairman of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Archbishop John Baptist Odama on 18 September 2015 said the Church in Uganda was ready to host Pope Francis.

“The Holy Father is coming to visit us as a Shepherd of God’s flock, to strengthen our faith and encourage us as we seek to re-live the martyrdom of our ancestors in the faith through self-sacrifice for the good of others,” Archbishop Odama’ statement read.

While in Kenya during his 3-day state visit, Pope Francis will hold bilateral discussions with President Uhuru Kenyatta together with his government, meet senior officials of the United Nations Environmental programme that is based in Nairobi and address members of the diplomatic corps.

Later Pope Francis is expected to meet religious leaders from Christian, Muslim, Hindu and traditional faiths, meet the youth, celebrate Holy Mass and address Kenyans. In Uganda, the Holy Father will join the faithful in celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the canonisation of the 22 Catholic Ugandan Martyrs.

In March 2014, the Catholic Church in Uganda postponed the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the canonisation of the Ugandan Martyrs because Pope Francis’ schedule could not allow him to travel to Uganda at the time.

(By Rose Achiego in Nairobi)
 

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