Pope Francis arrives Kenya for first African visit

President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya welcomed Pope Francis at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, on Wednesday, on his first visit to Africa.

Kenyan guards also fired 21 gun salute to receive the head of the Catholic Church, while there were numerous messages on the pages of leading newspapers in the country.

While delivering his speech, the Pope admonished the people to build a truly harmonious society.

“I am most grateful for your warm welcome on this, my first visit to Africa. I thank you, Mr President, for your kind words in the name of the Kenyan people, and I look forward to my stay among you,” he said.

“Kenya is a young and vibrant nation, a richly diverse society which plays a significant role in the region. In many ways, your experience of shaping a democracy is one shared by many other African nations.

“Like Kenya, they too are working to build, on the solid foundations of mutual respect, dialogue and cooperation, a multi-ethnic society which is truly harmonious, just and inclusive. Yours too is a nation of young people.”

While preaching the message of democracy, climate change and tree planting, the pontiff urged all human beings to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness.

“Kenya has been blessed not only with immense beauty, in its mountains, rivers and lakes, its forests, savannahs and semi-deserts, but also by an abundance of natural resources,” he said.

“The Kenyan people have a strong appreciation of these God-given treasures and are known for a culture of conservation which does you honour.

“To the extent that our societies experience divisions, whether ethnic, religious or economic, all men and women of good will are called to work for reconciliation and peace, forgiveness and healing. In the work of building a sound democratic order, strengthening cohesion and integration, tolerance and respect for others, the pursuit of the common good must be a primary goal.”

In his response, Kenyatta said the recent events around the world have “indeed taught us that we must do even more to bring unity and understanding between faiths, between ethnicities, between races, but also between nations”.

The Pope is scheduled to also visit Uganda and Central Africa Republic before leaving the continent.