Kenya prepares to welcome Pope Francis

While acknowledging the country’s continued instability and outbreaks of violence, the Vatican confirmed the pope’s busy schedule of 33 hours during which time he will visit a refugee camp, hold a meeting with evangelical Christians and visit a mosque in Bangui, the nation’s capital.

Strong population growth points to the trend continuing and important voices within the Church, such as the Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, have suggested the continent can be the catalyst for a regeneration of Catholicism worldwide.

“We don’t view homosexuality as a normal lifestyle but also we have chosen not to persecute those who have fallen victim to it”, he said.

Pope Francis will embark later this week on a six-day trip to three African nations in a concerted push for inter-religious and inter-cultural efforts favoring peace over conflict and dialogue over entrenchment, even bringing the message to a place many consider an active warzone.

Widespread human rights abuses committed by Seleka led to the formation of a Christian militia known as the anti-Balaka, who have targeted Muslims and sent tens of thousands fleeing to neighboring countries. Catholic leaders hope he avoids the topic.

Pope Francis also issued a joint video message to the people of Kenya and Uganda, in which expressed his hope that the visit will “confirm” the Catholic communities of the region as they testify to the Gospel.

Pope Francis will make his first entry into the Africa soil on November 25 to 30, visiting Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic since he became Pope.

Kenya successfully hosted the United States president for two days in July.

While Francis has not changed Catholic dogma on homosexuality and has reaffirmed the church’s opposition to same-sex marriage, his more inclusive approach has cheered many gay Catholics while annoying conservatives.

“Let us pass to the other side” is the theme of the visit, the Pope observed in the auto video message.

“I believe that Kenyans, including Muslims, will come out in large numbers to welcome the Pope”, Nado said. Pope Francis is expected to speak of both groups and reach out to “people who are afraid, who have been terrorized, who have been subjected to a lot of security checkpoints and all that”, Reverend Stephen Okello said.

Monsignor Abel Gabuza, a South African bishop, hopes Francis will energize African Catholics with his message of inclusiveness and concern for the less fortunate.

Major roads will be closed in the City for the better part of Thursday and Friday to facilitate the Pope’s movement while in Nairobi.

“In the early 21st century, Africa is arguably the most consequential corner of the global map for Catholic fortunes”, said a commentator this week on Crux, a Catholic news site.

According to a study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University, the number of Catholics in all of Africa could more than double to 460 million by 2040.