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| Pope Francis, in Nairobi Slum, Denounces ‘New Forms of Colonialism’ | Pope Francis, in Nairobi Slum, Denounces ‘New Forms of Colonialism’ |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| NAIROBI, Kenya — The pope got a taste of Kenyan slum life on Friday. | NAIROBI, Kenya — The pope got a taste of Kenyan slum life on Friday. |
| He stepped out of his car on a muddy street and walked slowly past hundreds of poor children who live in shanties. He heard stories of gangs preying on women, of people dying from homemade alcohol and of sinister plots by businessmen to flood children out of their schools and steal land. | He stepped out of his car on a muddy street and walked slowly past hundreds of poor children who live in shanties. He heard stories of gangs preying on women, of people dying from homemade alcohol and of sinister plots by businessmen to flood children out of their schools and steal land. |
| When it came time to speak, Pope Francis delivered his sharpest remarks yet on his first trip to Africa. | When it came time to speak, Pope Francis delivered his sharpest remarks yet on his first trip to Africa. |
| He lashed out against what he called “new forms of colonialism, which would make African countries parts of a machine, cogs on a gigantic wheel.” | He lashed out against what he called “new forms of colonialism, which would make African countries parts of a machine, cogs on a gigantic wheel.” |
| Francis said that “countries are frequently pressured to adopt policies typical of the culture of waste, like those aimed at lowering the birthrate.” | Francis said that “countries are frequently pressured to adopt policies typical of the culture of waste, like those aimed at lowering the birthrate.” |
| He even called the slums “wounds” inflicted by the elite. “How can I not denounce the injustices which you suffer?” he said. | He even called the slums “wounds” inflicted by the elite. “How can I not denounce the injustices which you suffer?” he said. |
| There are few places more apt for Francis, who has cast himself as a champion of the world’s poor, to deliver such remarks. The slum he visited, Kangemi, on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, is a seemingly endless rusted-roof settlement where thousands of families cram into iron shacks with ripped mattresses on the floor and cockroaches scuttling in the unlit corners. Many here survive on a few dollars a day. | |
| Before he spoke, the pope watched a two-minute video that showed images of children wading waist-deep through rivers of garbage. Many of Nairobi’s slums have deplorable sanitation, giving rise to what Kenyans call the “flying toilet,” a practice of people relieving themselves in a plastic bag, tying a knot on it and then hurling it as far as possible. | Before he spoke, the pope watched a two-minute video that showed images of children wading waist-deep through rivers of garbage. Many of Nairobi’s slums have deplorable sanitation, giving rise to what Kenyans call the “flying toilet,” a practice of people relieving themselves in a plastic bag, tying a knot on it and then hurling it as far as possible. |
| Francis did not share any new solutions to poverty, but he did say, “We need integrated cities which belong to everyone.” | Francis did not share any new solutions to poverty, but he did say, “We need integrated cities which belong to everyone.” |
| And he singled out “faceless private developers” who try to steal children’s playgrounds, a clear reference to an episode this year when the Kenyan police shot tear gas at children trying to protect a grassy field from being taken over by a cartel of mysterious real estate developers. | And he singled out “faceless private developers” who try to steal children’s playgrounds, a clear reference to an episode this year when the Kenyan police shot tear gas at children trying to protect a grassy field from being taken over by a cartel of mysterious real estate developers. |
| Later on Friday, Francis will fly to Uganda, where he will visit a shrine honoring some of the country’s first Christians who were burned alive. So far on his African trip, he has called for more attention to be paid to the poor and for serious dialogue between different religions. | Later on Friday, Francis will fly to Uganda, where he will visit a shrine honoring some of the country’s first Christians who were burned alive. So far on his African trip, he has called for more attention to be paid to the poor and for serious dialogue between different religions. |
| His last stop, on Sunday, will be the Central African Republic, a country torn by a brutal civil war between Christians and Muslims. Many analysts say that the Central African Republic is one of the most dangerous places a modern pope will have ever visited. | His last stop, on Sunday, will be the Central African Republic, a country torn by a brutal civil war between Christians and Muslims. Many analysts say that the Central African Republic is one of the most dangerous places a modern pope will have ever visited. |
| Everywhere he has gone so far, Francis has been swallowed by enormous, ecstatic crowds. The Roman Catholic Church is growing rapidly in Africa, partly because of its role in delivering crucial services, such as good schools and hospitals, that many African governments fail to provide. For the past two days, Nairobi’s streets have been jammed by people who have waited behind police barricades for hours for just a glimpse of the passing pope. On Thursday, 400,000 turned out for a rain-soaked Mass. | Everywhere he has gone so far, Francis has been swallowed by enormous, ecstatic crowds. The Roman Catholic Church is growing rapidly in Africa, partly because of its role in delivering crucial services, such as good schools and hospitals, that many African governments fail to provide. For the past two days, Nairobi’s streets have been jammed by people who have waited behind police barricades for hours for just a glimpse of the passing pope. On Thursday, 400,000 turned out for a rain-soaked Mass. |
| After visiting the slum on Friday, Francis traveled to a stadium in Nairobi brimming with thousands of young people. As he pulled in, a deafening roar went up. | After visiting the slum on Friday, Francis traveled to a stadium in Nairobi brimming with thousands of young people. As he pulled in, a deafening roar went up. |
| People were dancing in the stands to choir music, wildly shaking yellow Vatican flags and cheering: “Papa Francis! Papa Francis!” | People were dancing in the stands to choir music, wildly shaking yellow Vatican flags and cheering: “Papa Francis! Papa Francis!” |
| The pope asked everyone to stand up and hold hands as a gesture against tribalism, one of Kenya’s most vexing problems. In 2007 and 2008, more than a thousand people were killed in ethnic clashes after a disputed election, and ethnic rivalries continue to be the axis that Kenya’s dysfunctional politics revolve around. | The pope asked everyone to stand up and hold hands as a gesture against tribalism, one of Kenya’s most vexing problems. In 2007 and 2008, more than a thousand people were killed in ethnic clashes after a disputed election, and ethnic rivalries continue to be the axis that Kenya’s dysfunctional politics revolve around. |
| According to opinion polls, tribalism and corruption were among the most popular topics Kenyans wanted Francis to address. And before he left the stadium, the pope shared a few words on corruption, though he did not point any fingers. | According to opinion polls, tribalism and corruption were among the most popular topics Kenyans wanted Francis to address. And before he left the stadium, the pope shared a few words on corruption, though he did not point any fingers. |
| The subject has been a bit awkward for him because the corruption plaguing Kenya has been carried out, according to numerous allegations, by members of the same government that has placed the red carpet under his feet. | The subject has been a bit awkward for him because the corruption plaguing Kenya has been carried out, according to numerous allegations, by members of the same government that has placed the red carpet under his feet. |
| “Corruption is something that eats inside, it’s like sugar, it’s sweet, we like it, it’s easy,” Francis said. | “Corruption is something that eats inside, it’s like sugar, it’s sweet, we like it, it’s easy,” Francis said. |
| “Please,” he implored. “Don’t develop that taste.” | “Please,” he implored. “Don’t develop that taste.” |