Pope’s visit should serve to unify Kenyans

NAIROBI: In just a few days Kenya will host yet another key dignitary, the Roman Catholic Church pontiff – Pope Francis. The significance of Pope Francis’ visit lies, not just by the fact that the Catholics form the single largest Christian community in Kenya, but more so that this particular Pope is emerging as a most influential leader in the world. In the short time he has held office, Pope Francis has distinguished himself as a focused and courageous leader in the world arena. He has not been afraid to express his views and convictions on various matters of concern, sometimes controversially. His stand on spiritual, social, and political matters has thus earned him friends and foes alike.

On the spiritual front, Pope Francis has been refreshingly different in his approach to matters of faith and practice. Having read some of his writings, I can confess that though, like they said of the Apostle Paul, “his bodily presence is weak, his letters are weighty and powerful.”

In one of his letters, he has articulated the power of the evangel in a manner that has to get the evangelicals, like myself, thinking seriously about the centrality of the gospel in all that we do. Speaking to Church ministers, the Pope advises that we cannot live without having a vital, personal, authentic and strong relation with Christ. Anyone who “does not nourish himself daily with that food will become a bureaucrat (a formalist, a functionalist, an employee): a shoot that dries up and little by little dies and is thrown away.” This is such a vital warning to the Church leadership, especially in our times when Church is increasingly becoming like ordinary business enterprise.

In his Kenya visit, he is anticipated to address himself to, among other things, matters of peace. Globally, peace is becoming increasingly elusive, especially with the reality of terrorism that is now entering into nations hitherto considered secure.

The recent heartless murder of innocent people in France and in Mali is a wake-up call that all is not well on our planet. Whereas the traditional approach has been to let every affected nation address its own threats and consequences, it is now incumbent on the international community to forge a united front in order to deal with a people who have wrongly chosen to hide behind religion to murder the innocent. Meanwhile, our prayers and condolences go to the people of France and Mali.

But peace is also obviously an urgent subject in our nation. Judging from the fierce political rhetoric that has dominated our leadership space, there is every indication that we are not nurturing an environment conducive to peaceful co-existence— especially as we head towards the 2017 elections.

The language and tone of our public discourse is increasingly reminiscent of that which preceded the 2007 elections — a stark indicator that Kenyans never learn. Perhaps we need to be reminded, as the Pope has previously stated, that it is only “the living relation with God [that] also nourishes and reinforces communion with others, that is, the more we are profoundly joined to God the more we will be united among ourselves, because the Spirit of God unites and the spirit of the Evil One divides.”

This reminder is critical because, whereas Kenyans are notoriously religious, one wonders whether our spirituality is founded on the vital transforming relationship with God. Our deep-seated ethnic animosity and cancerous corruption, seem to reflect a serious disconnect between faith and praxis.

Of course Pope Francis has also not shied away from political engagement, especially with the tough issues of international relations.

Elizabeth Dias of Time magazine tells how the Pope personally encouraged President Barack Obama of the USA and the Cuban President Raul Castro to overcome decades of distrust and confrontation. Obama and Castro took up the offer and in the privacy of the Vatican, their representatives hammered out a deal that saw the two presidents seal a historic pact to end years of animosity.

He has similarly ventured into matters to do with ISIS, Israel, and Palestine. He has spoken on Burundi and has also wept with Kenya during our low moments of terrorist attacks. One can therefore hope that he will put a strong voice on some of our pressing issues such as ethnicity, corruption, and the ICC. But whether he does so or not, we extend a warm welcome to Pope Francis. Your visit is yet another testament to the fact that Kenya yetu hakuna matata!