(Editor’s Note: The Holy Father arrived in Kenya on November 25, the beginning of his apostolic journey to Africa, November 25-30, set to also include visits to Uganda and the Central African Republic.
(Below are some reports about his arrival, as well as the text of Pope Francis’ English-language discourse to authorities of the diplomatic corps of Kenya during his official welcome ceremony in the State House of Nairobi.
(ZENIT News Agency provided this material. All rights reserved.)
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The evening of November 24, Pope Francis traveled to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray for the success of his trip to Africa, which began the next morning, according to a report by Deborah Castellano Lubov.
This visit marked the Holy Father’s 27th visit to the Marian Basilica to pray for Mary’s protection and intercession.
According to Vatican Radio, the Pope prayed before the ancient image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, and invoked the Virgin Mary’s protection on his travels and upon the people he will visit in Kenya, Uganda, and the Central African Republic.
Before his November 24 stop, the Holy Father’s most recent visit to the Marian Basilica was on September 28, upon his return from his first apostolic visit to Cuba and the United States of America.
The morning of November 25, Pope Francis, his papal entourage, and journalists boarded the Alitalia plane at about 8 a.m. local time at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport and departed shortly thereafter.
The papal flight arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, that afternoon for the beginning of his first apostolic visit to Africa.
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During his flight from Rome to Nairobi, Pope Francis, as is customary, sent telegrams to the heads of states of the countries he flew ever. The first was sent to the president of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, in Italian, and the others were sent to the presidents of Greece, Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia in English.
Following is the text of the telegrams:
Italy
To His Excellency
Honorable Sergio Mattarella
President of the Italian Republic
As I prepare for an apostolic journey to Kenya, Uganda, and Central African Republic, moved by my great desire to meet the brothers in faith and the populations of those dear nations, it pleases me to send to you Mr. President this expression of a respectful greeting, which I accompany with special prayers for the good and prosperity of all the Italian people.
Franciscus pp.
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Greece
His Excellency Prokopis Pavlopoulos
President of the Hellenic Republic
Athens
I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and to your fellow citizens as I fly over the country on my way to Kenya for a pastoral visit. I invoke divine blessings upon Greece, and I pray that Almighty God may bless you all with peace and well-being.
Franciscus pp.
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Egypt
His Excellency Abdel Fattah Al Sisi
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Cairo
As I fly over your country on my way to Kenya for a pastoral visit, I extend cordial greetings to Your Excellency and the people of Egypt. Invoking the blessing of the Almighty upon the nation, I pray that he may grant you well-being and peace.
Franciscus pp.
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Sudan
His Excellency Omar Al-Bashir
President of the Republic of the Sudan
Khartoum
Upon entering the airspace of the nation as I travel to Kenya for a pastoral visit, I extend cordial greetings to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens. I pray that the Almighty may grant the Sudan divine blessings of peace and prosperity.
Franciscus pp.
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Ethiopia
His Excellency Mulatu Teshome
President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
As I travel over Ethiopia on my way to Kenya for a pastoral visit, I send cordial greetings to Your Excellency and to your fellow citizens. Assuring you of my prayers for the peace and well-being of the nation, I invoke divine blessings upon all of you.
Franciscus pp.
Pope Francis Arrives
In Nairobi
The first Pope from the Americas successfully kicked off his first apostolic visit to Africa, the continent where the Church is growing most rapidly in the world, reported Deborah Castellano Lubov for ZENIT.
Pope Francis’ flight touched down early, about 4:30 p.m. local time, in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, where he was welcomed by the nation’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta. The Holy Father received a warm welcome from local religious leaders and by crowds who were chanting, singing, and dancing.
The last Pope to visit Kenya was Pope John Paul II, who traveled to the country three times — in 1980, 1985, and 1995.
Francis’ Predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, visited Africa in 2009, but he went to Angola and Cameroon.
Before being taken by car to the State House for an official welcome ceremony, Pope Francis signed a visitor’s book and met privately with President Kenyatta for a few minutes.
After the welcome ceremony, the Pope met with the civil authorities of Kenya and with the diplomatic corps.
The Pontiff began November 26 with an interreligious and ecumenical meeting at the apostolic nunciature in Nairobi, followed by a Mass on the campus of the University of Nairobi. After the Mass, Francis met with clergy, religious men and women, and seminarians at the athletic field of St. Mary’s School, before visiting the United Nations Office in Nairobi.
The next day, he visited the poor neighborhood of Kangemi in Nairobi, met with young people in Kasarani Stadium, and met with the nation’s bishops. Then, there was the farewell ceremony at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport before he took off for the second leg of his visit, to Uganda. After Uganda, the Pope was set to head to the Central African Republic, before his return to Rome on Monday, November 30.
Pope’s Address To
Diplomatic Corps, Authorities
Below is the English-language discourse Pope Francis gave to authorities of the diplomatic corps of Kenya during his official welcome ceremony in the State House of Nairobi:
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Mr. President,
Honorable Government and Civil Leaders,
Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
My Brother Bishops,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am most grateful for your warm welcome on this, my first visit to Africa. I thank you, Mr. President, for your kind words in the name of the Kenyan people, and I look forward to my stay among you.
Kenya is a young and vibrant nation, a richly diverse society which plays a significant role in the region. In many ways your experience of shaping a democracy is one shared by many other African nations. Like Kenya, they too are working to build, on the solid foundations of mutual respect, dialogue, and cooperation, a multiethnic society which is truly harmonious, just, and inclusive.
Yours too is a nation of young people. In these days, I look forward to meeting many of them, speaking with them, and encouraging their hopes and aspirations for the future. The young are any nation’s most valuable resource. To protect them, to invest in them and to offer them a helping hand, is the best way we can ensure a future worthy of the wisdom and spiritual values dear to their elders, values which are the very heart and soul of a people.
Kenya has been blessed not only with immense beauty, in its mountains, rivers, and lakes, its forests, savannahs, and semi-deserts, but also by an abundance of natural resources. The Kenyan people have a strong appreciation of these God-given treasures and are known for a culture of conservation which does you honor. The grave environmental crisis facing our world demands an ever greater sensitivity to the relationship between human beings and nature.
We have a responsibility to pass on the beauty of nature in its integrity to future generations, and an obligation to exercise a just stewardship of the gifts we have received. These values are deeply rooted in the African soul. In a world which continues to exploit rather than protect our common home, they must inspire the efforts of national leaders to promote responsible models of economic development.
In effect, there is a clear link between the protection of nature and the building of a just and equitable social order. There can be no renewal of our relationship with nature, without a renewal of humanity itself (cf. Laudato Si, n. 118).
To the extent that our societies experience divisions, whether ethnic, religious, or economic, all men and women of goodwill are called to work for reconciliation and peace, forgiveness and healing. In the work of building a sound democratic order, strengthening cohesion and integration, tolerance, and respect for others, the pursuit of the common good must be a primary goal. Experience shows that violence, conflict, and terrorism feed on fear, mistrust, and the despair born of poverty and frustration.
Ultimately, the struggle against these enemies of peace and prosperity must be carried on by men and women who fearlessly believe in, and bear honest witness to, the great spiritual and political values which inspired the birth of the nation.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the advancement and preservation of these great values is entrusted in a special way to you, the leaders of your country’s political, cultural, and economic life. This is a great responsibility, a true calling, in the service of the entire Kenyan people.
The Gospel tells us that from those to whom much has been given, much will be demanded (Luke 12:48). In that spirit, I encourage you to work with integrity and transparency for the common good, and to foster a spirit of solidarity at every level of society. I ask you in particular to show genuine concern for the needs of the poor, the aspirations of the young, and a just distribution of the natural and human resources with which the Creator has blessed your country.
I assure you of the continued efforts of the Catholic community, through its educational and charitable works, to offer its specific contribution in these areas.
Dear friends, I am told that here in Kenya it is a tradition for young schoolchildren to plant trees for posterity. May this eloquent sign of hope in the future, and trust in the growth which God gives, sustain all of you in your efforts to cultivate a society of solidarity, justice, and peace on the soil of this country and throughout the great African continent.
I thank you once more for your warm welcome, and upon you and your families, and all the beloved Kenyan people, I invoke the Lord’s abundant blessings.
Mungu abariki Kenya!
God bless Kenya!
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