It is agreeable to all that Pope Francis is a pope of many firsts. Pope Francis is the first Pope to ever address a House of Congress or any House of Parliament.
As he heads to Kenya, and borrowing from his address during his visit to the US, what would he have said if he had to address our own Kenyan combined Parliament?
His speech to the combined Congress captured and stirred many a politician's heart.
His introduction... “I am most grateful for your invitation to address this Joint Session of Congress in “the land of the free and the home of the brave” was taken from the National anthem of the United States of America, also called “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
In our context, this would probably read: “I am most grateful for your invitation to address this Joint Session of Parliament in the land where “hearts both strong and true (seek to make) service your earnest endeavour”, taken directly from the Kenyan national anthem.
The Pope's reference to “the land of the free and the home of the brave” was an invitation to probe the resonance with the convictions contained in the US national anthem or declaration as a nation.
Indeed, it is expected that the lyrics of an Anthem should express the deepest convictions and the highest aspirations of the people as a whole.
Interestingly, few of us even remember the words of our national anthem, which is meant to be a statement of our dream as a nation.
Ours refers to “having hearts both strong and true, and to make service our earnest endeavour”. Two characteristics that should be the guiding compass for our leaders and for us as citizens of this nation are: strong to defend truth, endurance for the sake of truth, authentic service at all levels and in all ways. These are the traits traced by our national anthem.
I quote his words in that address to Congress that can be transcribed fully into our situation in Kenya:
“Each son or daughter of a given country has a mission, a personal and social responsibility. Your own responsibility as members of Congress is to enable this country, by your legislative activity, to grow as a nation. You are the face of its people, their representatives. You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good, for this is the chief aim of all politics.”
Urging on the elected leaders, in front of all the societal ills and challenges, like tribalism and corruption in our country, he says:
“Our response must instead be one of hope and healing, of peace and justice. We are asked to summon the courage and the intelligence to resolve today’s many geopolitical and economic crises. Even in the developed world, the effects of unjust structures and actions are all too apparent. Our efforts must aim at restoring hope, righting wrongs, maintaining commitments, and thus promoting the well-being of individuals and of peoples. We must move forward together, as one, in a renewed spirit of fraternity and solidarity, cooperating generously for the common good.”
Can’t this be Kenya’s script as well?
Pope Francis then presented to the US congress four American heroes and invited them to emulate their American spirit, both at the political-social level, and at the moral-ethical level.
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“I would like to mention four of these Americans: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton.
If I am allowed the liberty, I would imagine he would bring to our consideration the eminent example of four Kenyan heroes: Dedan Kimathi, Tom Mboya, Sister Irene Nyaatha, and Cardinal Maurice Otunga.
One Dedan Kimathi, who represents many Kenyan heroes who laid their lives for our freedom and independence. The freedom fighters had an ideal of a free Kenya, where all would have full benefits of her resources.
A land where no one would ever go to bed hungry, where true African brotherhood would reign supreme. In Tom Mboya, Pope Francis would most likely see a representative of the first of Kenyan intellectuals, who dreamt an ideal for Kenya.
And how not to single out, through the example of the recently beatified Blessed Sister Irene Nyaatha, the many missionaries, of all religions who have worked tirelessly and given up their health and life in order to impart education and to bring God’s word to us. To bring the law of love and forgiveness, of spiritual brotherhood beyond the confines of family and tribe, and so forth.
In Maurice Cardinal Otunga, Pope Francis would emphasize what enshrines what is admirably Holy in our Kenyan heroes, and above all finds great resonance with his spirit of poverty and simplicity.
He wished to retire in a simple room at Nyumba ya wazee in Ruaraka, with only a few belongings. The same humility of Pope Francis is possible by us, and we have an example in Cardinal Otunga. A son of a Chief who wished to live with the old and poor. No attachment whatsoever to position and wealth.
In him lives that spirit of “Strong hearts that seek to serve to the utmost”. What a contrast to our Kenyan leaders, and elected leaders in the counties and in Parliament.
If only Pope Francis were to speak to Kenyan Houses of Parliament, he may have more to add, as it seems to incubate so many vices, and so we wait; because the Pope will speak to the Kenyan people, parliamentarians included.
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