Pope Francis waded into the heart of a Kenyan shantytown, spreading a message of love and lashing out at the elite in a neighborhood that feels largely disenfranchised.
Francis’ visit to Kangemi mirrors his message of service to the poor during his three days in Nairobi.
In the sprawling slum filled with tin-roofed homes, he described injustices against the poor as “new forms of colonialism.”
“Our world has a grave social debt toward the poor who lack access to drinking water because they are denied a life consistent with their inalienable dignity,” he said.
He said the “dreadful injustice of social exclusion” leaves the poor with an unfair distribution of land, and lack of access to infrastructures and basic services.
‘We are so blessed’
Kangemi residents welcomed his long-term focus on the downtrodden.
“Sometimes challenges in slums almost cause us to despair and some people give up working in slums,” said Sister Mari Killeen, who works in poor areas.
“Your (pope’s) visit gives us courage. By coming here, you shine a light on the challenges. Your meeting with us gives us dignity.”
When Francis weaved through the slum’s narrow streets in his popemobile, crowds reached out to touch his hand as he waved from behind a clear protective covering.
Women ululated as children crooned Swahili welcome songs.
‘I’m so happy, we are so blessed,” said Magdalene Mwikali, 36, of Kangemi.
“He’s left all those rich neighborhoods to come here,” she said. ” He’s shown us we are important, that we matter, that God loves us too.”
Volunteer cleanup
Excited residents have prepared for this trip for weeks, Mwikali said.
Scores volunteered to sweep littered streets and cover dirt roads with gravel, residents said. Others perched Vatican flags on streets leading to the church.
“He has restored my faith, I have a role model and will practice his humility, ” said Regina Kimende, who came from a neighboring parish. ” After seeing him today, I have decided my life is at the church. I’m starting all over.”
Last day in Kenya
Francis’ last day in Kenya included meeting with youths at a Nairobi sports center, where he will also talk with bishops.
During his meeting with the youth, he addressed corruption, which is rampant in Kenya, saying graft hinders progress.
He also called for equal distribution of wealth to ensure young people left out are not at risk of getting radicalized.
Later Friday, he’ll board a flight to neighboring Uganda, where he’ll kick off his visit at the state house with President Yoweri Museveni and the nation’ officials.
After his visit to Uganda, he’ll head to the Central African Republic, the latter in the throes of a conflict in which Christians and Muslims are slaughtering one another.
‘Catastrophic’ warning
The Pope’s first papal trip to Africa started in Kenya on Wednesday. It has focused on issues close to his heart: climate change, the poor and children.
A day before, he delivered a stern warning ahead of a key climate change conference in Paris.
“It would be sad, and I dare say even catastrophic, were particular interests to prevail over the common good and lead to manipulating information in order to protect their own plans and projects,” the Pope said.
He urged nations to reach an agreement over curbing fossil fuel emissions, and work together to find solutions to environmental degradation.
But it was Francis’ comments on the pillaging of African resources that drew a louder response.
Africans cannot afford to remain silent on the illegal trade in precious stones and the poaching of elephants for ivory, which “fuels political instability, organized crime and terrorism,” he said.
The message reverberated with a nation where farming and tourism are a crucial part of the economy.
‘Unifying gesture’
Aside from visiting a region with the highest growth in the Catholic Church, the Pope’s plan to stop at a mosque in the Central African Republic sends a powerful message.
In the Central African Republic, a Muslim rebel group overthrew the Christian president two years ago, prompting brutal retaliatory attacks between Christian and Muslim militias.
Those attacks continue to this day, and have displaced hundreds of thousands of people.Â
Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict, also visited several countries in Africa. During his nearly three decades in the papacy, Pope John Paul II also made dozens of trips to the continent. Â
