2015-04-13 15:55:00

Kenyan Bishops visit Pope Francis on ad limina visit


Catholic Bishops in Kenya have arrived in Rome Monday to begin their “ad limina" visit to the Pope and various offices of the Holy See from 13  to 17 April, 2015. The Bishops come to Rome shortly after Islamist militants, Al Shabaab, attacked Garissa University College in Northeastern Kenya on 2 April 2015. The official death toll from the tragic massacre and siege in Kenya stands at 148.

Pope Francis in a Telegram to Kenya’s Cardinal John Njue, President of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) said that he was deeply saddened by the immense and tragic loss of life at the Garissa University College. The Holy Father assured Kenyans of his prayers and spiritual closeness to the families of the victims.

Speaking Easter Monday, Pope Francis expressed his hope that the international community would not look on “silent and inactive,” in the face of the "unacceptable crime" of the persecution of Christians around the world.

The Pope’s message was all the more poignant because according to survivors in the Garissa attack, Muslims were separated from non-Muslims. Non-Muslim students who failed to recite Islamic verses were executed there and then. In fact, the first group to be killed in Garissa were 22 Christian Union students who had gathered in a hall at the university campus that morning for prayers.

Regarding the ad limina visit, Acting Secretary General at the KCCB, Fr. Daniel Rono, disclosed ahead of the Bishops’ departure from Kenya that the Bishops would have an opportunity to share with Pope Francis the situation of the Kenyan Church and give an account of their work in the dioceses they shepherd. The Bishops will also pray at the tombs of the two great Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul.

During their week-long visit, the Bishops will visit different congregations especially the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Congregation for Catholic Education and many other decastries. They will seek to share with concerned offices various successes, challenges and concerns of the Church in Kenya as well as  seek closer collaboration.

 
Fr. Rono said some of the challenges that will be addressed by the Bishops, during their meeting with Pope Francis, expected to take place on Thursday, 16 April  include efforts being made by the Church in Kenya for the good formation and sustainability of future priests. He further spoke of the growth of Kenyan Catholic media, “Secular media condones evil by demeaning the voice of reason and the voice of faith and as a Church in Kenya, we are facing a challenge on how to establish and strengthen Catholic media in the country to make the voice of the Church reach as many people as possible” said Fr. Rono

The Church in Kenya is growing at a fast pace and there is now need to for more and new infrastructure such as parishes.  

Other areas of discussion, according to Fr. Rono, include the issue of corruption and bad politics in Kenya which divide the country along tribal, political, economic and regional lines. These, he said, are challenges that the Kenyan Church is tackling through its advocacy programmes as well as through pastoral responses in justice and peace.
 
While in Rome, the Bishops will visit different Basilicas such as St. John Lateran, St. Paul’s outside the walls, St. Mary’s Major Basilica and eventually meet some of the partners who have always worked with the Kenyan Church. Fr. Rono said the Bishops will use their presence in Rome to meet some of the Kenyan priests, religious and seminarians studying in the Pontifical universities; celebrate Mass with the students and also share a meal with other Kenyans resident and working in Rome.
 
While expressing hope for a fruitful visit, Fr. Rono appealed to all the Christians in Kenya and people of good will to pray for the Bishops during their trip to the Holy See so that they would have a fruitful visit and that they would be strengthened and energised to continue shepherding the faithful in Kenya.
 

Every five years Catholic Bishops all over the world visit the Pope and the Holy See in an ad limina visit. While in Rome the Bishops venerate the tombs of the Apostles; meet with the Pope and give an account of their Dioceses to the Holy Father.  

(Rose Achiego – Waumini communications, Kenya. Additional Reporting and editing, Fr. Paul Samasumo, Vatican Radio)

e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va


 








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