While activists hope the Pope will address the violent attacks against gays and lesbians and call for increased tolerance, local religious leaders expect he will avoid the subject entirely.
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African gays who often face persecution in the streets and sometimes prosecution in courts have a simple plea for Pope Francis ahead of his first visit to the continent: bring a message of tolerance even if you will not bless our sexuality. Kenyan law stipulates prison terms of up to 14 years for homosexual acts.
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.
With the backdrop, too, of the bloody attacks by Islamist militants in France and Mali, the pope’s top advisers readily acknowledge the difficulties of conducting dialogue between Catholics and other Christian churches and Muslims. “To weep for those who live for war and have the cynicism to deny it”, he said, adding: “God weeps, Jesus weeps”.
The Pope went on to say that “there are wars today everywhere, and hate”.
“If he starts talking about rights, then Ugandans are going to be very defensive”, said Frank Mugisha, a Catholic and one of Uganda’s most outspoken advocates for gay rights. “Francis – she said – you are an inspiration to many!”
“I am praying that he doesn’t talk about this”. We have always condemned this style of life, especially in the line of exhibitionism. “We should not be discriminated against”, said Keith.
“In the newspaper already he is featured as the Pope who loves the poor [and] visiting a slum area in Kangemi [will] for sure be appreciated by many”, he said, referencing a visit the pope is to make November 27 to a slum neighborhood outside Nairobi that is home to an estimated 100,000 people.
Despite the fact that the United Nations has deployed 300 extra personnel to provide security for the pope’s visit, tensions are still high, and the papal security team says that it may have to cancel the pope’s visit at the last minute.
“Security arrangements have been made and put in place, right from arrival to coverage of all the routes that he will be using, the venues, residences including providing security for the visitors who will be coming to visit this city”, Kenyan police chief Boinett said.
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In the year 2012, some 18.6 percent of folks in Africa were Catholic, the report said.
