ope Francis has arrived in Kenya on November 25, Wednesday, for his first visit to Africa, a windstorm tour of three countries that will mark the first time a reigning pontiff has flown into an active armed conflict.
The plane that Pope Francis used on his Kenya tour. Photo: Facebook.
Tuko.co.ke reports that President Uhuru Kenyatta and wailing crowds greeted him at the airport in the capital, Nairobi.
After his three-day visit to Kenya, the Pope will later proceed to Uganda on Friday November 27, 2015 and later to the Central African Republic.
Disembarking from the plane. Photo: Facebook.
At State House the head of the 1.2 billion people-strong Catholic Church received full honours comprising a 21-gun salute and a guard of honour which was mounted by a detachment of the Kenya Army.
After the State reception, the pontiff held a private talks with Kenyan president before they were joined by government officials for a bilateral meeting.
Pope Francis greeting deputy president William Ruto at JKIA. Photo: Facebook.
The Pope and the president were later addressed the nation from the lawns of State House.
The pope called for peace, saying conflict and terrorism “feed on fear, mistrust, and the despair born of poverty and frustration”.
A major Muslim cleric in Kenya saluted the visit, saying it gave hope to the “downtrodden in the slums”.
Traditional dancers give welcome at JKIA. Photo: Facebook.
President Uhuru Kenyatta welcomes Pope Francis on arrival at JKIA, Nairobi. Photo:Facebook.
Greeting First Lady Margaret Kenyatta at JKIA. Photo: Facebook.
Potentially the most risky stop may be the third in the Central African Republic.
Dozens of people have been killed there since September in violence between mostly Muslim Seleka rebels and Christian anti-balaka militias.
However, the pope is said to have decided not to step into Nigeria stemming from numerous attack of the deadly Boko Haram sect.
0 comments:
Post a Comment