In the wake of Pope Francis' death, the African Church remembers the Pope's thoughtful emphasis on their role in the Catholic world as a whole.
Pope Francis visited Kenya in 2015, his first state and pastoral visit to the country, as well as the his first visit to the African continent as a whole. Anthony Muheria, the Archbishop of Nyeri, Kenya, reflected on this visit.
ANTHONY MUHERIA
Archbishop of Nyeri, Kenya
The Holy Father particularly emphasized that Africa needs to take charge of its future, both spiritual, in terms of taking the… what we have received from the evangelization, and letting it sink into our roots and our cultures.
The Archbishop also highlighted how positive and uplifting the Pope's visit was. Specifically, he remembered the Pope's concern for the poor and marginalized in Africa.
Finally, the Archbishop relayed the Pope's message regarding Africa's role and responsibility in the Church:
ANTHONY MUHERIA
Archbishop of Nyeri, Kenya
He also told us our responsibility as a nation in Africa, that has been blessed, that we need to think beyond ourselves, and the need to feel that the young Church now needs to support the older Church, as it were, the Church in Europe and beyond Africa.
During Pope Francis' papacy, Africa experienced a large growth in Catholicism, increasing from around 185 million to approximately 230 million.
As mourning continues, many bishops around the world remember Pope Francis' call for a unified church where all voices are heard from around the world.
GS
