Time to reflect on Pontiff's message

Pope Francis is a humble man. He has managed to surprise many because of his down-to-earth demeanor.

He is more concerned about the welfare of the poor and less privileged in the society.

He has also been a strong crusader for environmental issues.

What can we learn as a country from this man of God who is so big yet so humble?

The visit by Pope Francis has offered us a rare opportunity as a country to change our bad attitudes.

Our leaders need to learn from this man of God and try emulating his style of leadership. Selfless leadership is the only hope we have as a country to achieve our desired goals.

The Pontiff addressed issues such as inter-religious intolerance. If we are to defeat challenges such as terrorism and religious conflicts, we need to embrace inter-religious co-operation. This is so central for our peaceful coexistence that we cannot afford to ignore the message the Pope had for us.

Countries that have embraced inter-religious co-operation have been able to live peacefully. The Pope met leaders of other religions and this shows the seriousness he attaches to this issue.

Other issues that the Pope discussed include peace, youth unemployment, national cohesion and integration. These issues are critical and central to us as a country.