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| Image source: BBC |
Huge crowds braved heavy
rains they hailed as "God's blessing" on Thursday to take part in
Pope Francis' first open-air mass in Africa, singing and dancing in the centre
of the Kenyan capital. Many of the worshippers spent the night outside in torrential
downpours to take part in the mass, although the rain eased off as Francis
arrived in his popemobile to a tumultuous welcome from the crowds, who waved
wildly as he passed.
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| Image source: BBC |
The
mass in the University of Nairobi, which is also being shown live on giant
television screens in neighbouring parks, is the 78-year-old's first major
appearance in public and a highly-anticipated part of his three-day visit to
Kenya.
Over
100,000 people -- including some 60 cardinals, archbishops and bishops from
across east Africa, and 9,000 priests -- crammed into the park, smiling despite
the rain, which is often a symbol of blessing in the Bible and which many said
was a gift from God.
AFP/GRAPHITTI NEWS report continues:
"It's
important for me to be here because I want to see the Pope and hear his
message," said engineering student Stephen Kola, a Catholic volunteer who
was helping out and said he wanted to hear the pontiff's words on "peace,
forgiveness, love and unity."
Kenya's
main newspapers quickly picked up on his choice of vehicle to travel from the
airport: a simple grey saloon car.
"Modesty
at its best as pope rides in simple car," The Standard newspaper said,
noting the stark contrast that made with the government's large luxury
"fuel guzzlers."
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Pope Francis
heading to mass at UON #PopeInKenya (Image source: NTV Uganda)
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Thousands
of police and troops have been deployed and roads closed to ensure security as
the pontiff makes his first visit to Kenya on a six-day trip which will also
take him to Uganda and Central African Republic (CAR).
Ahead
of the mass, Francis met with religious leaders of different faiths, where he
spoke out against the radicalization of young people and the "barbarous
attacks" carried out in the name of religion.
- 'God of peace, not
violence' -
"All
too often, young people are being radicalized in the name of religion to sow
discord and fear, and to tear at the very fabric of our societies," the
pope said nearly two weeks after young jihadists, many of them French, killed
130 people in a series of gun and suicide attacks in Paris.
"The
God whom we serve is a God of peace. His name must never be used to justify
hatred and violence."
Kenya
has suffered numerous attacks since sending its army into neighbouring Somalia
in 2011 after a string of kidnappings it blamed on Al-Qaeda's East Africa
branch, al Shabaab.
The
Islamist rebels have staged a string of attacks in Kenya, including an April
massacre at Garissa University in which 148 people were killed, and a 2013
assault on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall that killed 67.
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| Image source: AFP |
Francis
arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday evening to joyous celebrations where he was
greeted by choirs and dancers in traditional feather headdresses, bright
clothes and beads.
From
there he went on to Kenya's presidential palace to deliver a more sombre
message. Speaking alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta, Francis urged leaders to
work with "integrity and transparency" and to battle inequality in
comments alluding to the corruption and inequality that blights Kenya.
"I
ask you in particular to show genuine concern for the needs of the poor, the
aspirations of the young, and a just distribution of the natural and human
resources with which the Creator has blessed your country," Francis said.
- 'A profound role to
play' -
The
leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics also warned the world was facing a
"grave environmental crisis" just days before the start of COP21, a
key United Nations climate summit in Paris.
Francis
is expected to speak further on the environment on Thursday when he visits the
Nairobi headquarters of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Human
Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
Ahead
of the visit, UNEP chief Achim Steiner told AFP the pope had a "profound
role to play" in efforts to tackle climate change.
"Whether
you are a Catholic or not, it is the ethical, the moral dimension of acting on
something that we know is a threat to future generations," Steiner said.
Francis is the fourth pope
in modern times to visit Africa, a continent which is now home to one in six of
the world's Catholics and whose importance to the Church is set to grow
significantly over the coming decades.
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Crowds
queue in the rain as they wait to access a mass by Pope Francis during his
visit to Africa in Nairobi on November 26, 2015 ©Carl de Souza (AFP)
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