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Pope Francis urges dialogue between religions on first day of African tour Dialogue between religions essential, says pope on first day of African tour
(about 2 hours later)
Dialogue between religions is essential to teach young people that violence in God’s name is unjustified, Pope Francis has told faith leaders in Kenya on the first full day of his African tour. Pope Francis has called on Christians and Muslims to engage in an essential dialogue of peace in the face of religious radicalisation and “barbarous” attacks as he began the first full day of his three-nation trip to Africa.
The country has seen a spate of attacks by Islamist militants, including al-Shabaab’s 2013 attack on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall and this year’s assault on Marissa university. The pope met a small group of faith leaders in Nairobi before a public open-air mass, attended by around a million people in the pouring rain.
Hundreds of people have been killed in the past two years, with Christians sometimes singled out by the gunmen behind the raids. Religion could never be used to justify violence, the pope told Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Jewish representatives. “All too often, young people are being radicalised in the name of religion to sow discord and fear, and to tear at the very fabric of society,” he said.
“Ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue is not a luxury. It is not something extra or optional, but essential,” the pope told Muslim and other religious leaders gathered in the Vatican embassy in Nairobi. “How important it is that we be seen as prophets of peace, peacemakers who invite others to live in peace, harmony and mutual respect.”
“All too often, young people are being radicalised in the name of religion to sow discord and fear, and to tear at the very fabric of our societies.” Francis’s message of religious tolerance will resonate in Kenya, where there have been three major attacks in the past two years by the Somalia-based Muslim extremist organisation, al-Shabab. In April, more than 150 students – most of them Christians – at Garissa university, close to the Somali border, were killed. A month earlier, 12 people died in al-Shabab attacks in Mandera county, and in September 2013, at least 67 people died in an attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi.
He stressed that God’s name “must never be used to justify hatred and violence”. Related: Pope Francis to embark on Africa tour despite security fears
Bridging divisions between Muslims and Christians is a main theme of Francis’s first tour of the continent that also takes him to Uganda, which like Kenya has been victim of Islamist attacks, and the Central African Republic, riven by sectarian conflict. The pope referred to all three episodes, saying he understood that memories were still fresh in people’s minds.
Francis later took to his open-sided popemobile for a spin through the tens of thousands of people gathered in pouring rain for his first public mass in Africa. A sea of umbrellas awaited Francis at the University of Nairobi campus, and thousands of people stood in queues several miles long to try to get close to the site. A third of Kenya’s 45 million people are Catholics. Francis’s first trip to Africa also takes in visits to Uganda and Central African Republic, where thousands of people have been killed in a conflict that has a strong religious dimension.
In his homily, Francis called for Kenyans to support families and welcome children as a blessing. He urged them to resist practices “which foster arrogance in men, hurt or demean women and threaten the life of the innocent unborn”. The pope’s interfaith meeting – the first of several during his six-day trip – was followed by an electric welcome at the rain-soaked university of Nairobi, where a massive crowd was joined by around 10,000 police amid tight security.
The African church is among the most conservative in the world, and African bishops have been at the forefront in insisting that traditional church teachings on marriage and sexuality, and its opposition to abortion, be strongly emphasised. The usually staid proceedings of a Catholic mass were set aside as Francis’s first public appearance in the Kenyan capital turned into a festival of dance and singing, sometimes obscured by a sea of umbrellas.
Francis obliged, but also stressed issues of his own concern: he called for Kenyans to shape a more just society that looks out for the poor and to “reject everything that leads to prejudice and discrimination, for these things are not of God”. Colourfully attired members of 12 choirs performed Kiswahili and English gospel tunes with an enthusiasm that brought a smile to the Pope’s face, and band leaders energetically waved the kayamba, a flat reed instrument that is popular in east Africa, to accompany the hymns. Masai tribesmen and traditional dancers performed before the pope.
Thousands of police officers, some mounted on horses, were deployed in Nairobi to protect the pope and control the crowds. Uganda, where al-Shabaab carried out attacks in 2010, has also promised tight security. Hundreds of thousands of Catholics – who make up around a third of Kenya’s 44 million population – had travelled to the university to catch a glimpse of the pontiff, with many lining up as early as 3am to secure a spot near the dais in the grounds.
The most hazardous stop may be the Central African Republic, where dozens of people have been killed since September in violence between mostly Muslim Selena rebels and Christian anti-balaka militias. The pope has brushed off safety concerns. Many others in a crowd estimated by police to be 1 million-strong, followed proceedings from large-screen TVs set up in several venues around the city, defying the driving rain.
“This is a pope that has really inspired me,” said Wambui Gitau, a 21-year-old college student. “He gives us hope and shows that despite the many challenges and problems that surround us, we can do something to change things.”
Since landing in Nairobi on Wednesday evening, Francis has called for religious tolerance and urged leaders to tackle the problem of inequality. He also made an impassioned plea to respect the environment on a continent that makes the lowest contribution to greenhouse gas emissions yet is expected to bear the worst effects of climate change.
“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,” he said shortly after his arrival. “These values are deeply rooted in the African soul.”
However, Francis was restrained on social issues, perhaps reflecting the still-conservative views of many on the continent, including Catholic bishops who insist on traditional church teachings on sexuality, family life and reproduction.
In his homily at Thursday’s mass, he praised the strength of the African family especially what he called a culture of respect of the elderly and love for the young, and urged followers to resist practices that “foster arrogance in men, hurt or demean women and threaten the life of the innocent unborn”.
He also warned against materialism, prejudice and discrimination, saying the mission of Christian families was “especially important today, for we are seeing the growth of new deserts created by a culture of materialism, selfishness and indifference to others”.
He appealed to youth to “shape a society which is ever more just, inclusive and respectful of human dignity. May you always be concerned for the needs of the poor, and reject everything that leads to prejudice and discrimination.”
For many in the crowd, though, the symbolism and power of the pope’s presence on the continent dwarfed his words.
Much media attention focused on Francis’s choice of a humble Honda Fit as his mode of transport from the airport, a striking contrast to the opulent German-made stretch limousines favoured by Kenyan leaders in a country in which many live below the poverty line.
A changing Catholic church was clearly visible in the way the service was conducted. Alarmed by a loss of members to more charismatic preachers in the evangelical churches where services are marked by vigorous dancing and singing, the Catholic church in Africa has made adjustments and shown greater flexibility. The festive atmosphere that marked the service at the university reflected that.
Crowds snapping pictures on smartphones jostled to catch a glimpse of the pope, perching on rooftops with some taking precarious positions on trees just outside the venue.
In a reception held earlier at State House, Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, praised the role of the Catholic church in delivering services to the poor.
“Through its dioceses, in Kenya, the church is the largest non-state provider of healthcare with nearly 500 healthcare units and over 50 community-based orphanages and programmes for vulnerable children,” he said.
The pope also received praise for meeting Muslim leaders and for his call for religious harmony and cooperation.
“This pope has transcended religious fault lines,” Hassan Omar, the senator of Mombasa and a Muslim, told the Associated Press.
“He has talked about the plight of Palestinians, the weak and the downtrodden. He epitomises simplicity and has demonstrated that he is a defender of social justice.”
Despite grave security concerns about the pope’s visit, Francis shrugged off fears for his safety, opting to ride in an open pope-mobile and joking to reporters while flying to Nairobi that he had more pressing concerns than physical safety.
“There are bad people and there are good people. I am only worried about mosquitoes. Have you carried mosquito repellants?”