“As representatives of the Church in Africa we warmly welcome the Holy Father, Pope Francis, as he makes his first apostolic visit to our continent”, said the standing committee of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
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When asked about reports that Francis would wear a bulletproof vest or use a shield on the popemobile during his visit to Central African Republic, Lombardi told the Wall Street Journal: “I have not heard that and I don’t believe it”.
“You look at how Africa has been looked down upon and how, even today, we still suffer the consequences of colonialism, racism and so many other things”, Gabuza said.
Indeed, the church in Africa is proving in many instances to be an alternate community of hope and a counter narrative of being and inclusion in many circumstances and instances where the fabric of society is weak, unworkable and frayed.
Kenyan newspaper The Standard has warned of a “security nightmare”. Gay activists have urged the pope to address LGBT tolerance on his visit. In Kenya, the pope’s expected to offer encouragement after the April massacre of almost 150 students by al-Shabaab Islamist militants who targeted Christians.
The Government on Tuesday declared Thursday 26th November 2015 a public holiday and a national day of prayer and reflection.
Inevitably, this visit will afford Pope Francis the opportunity to reinforce one of the major teachings of his pontificate, namely the Catholic Church’s preferential option for the poor.
But this growth among sub-Saharan Africa’s religious communities has, in recent years, been accompanied by violent clashes, including in all of the countries the pope is visiting.
But concerns over the pope’s safety, especially in the auto, where there has been ongoing violence since a 2013 coup, have taken center stage. Now retired, Senyonjo has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of Uganda’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender population, saying that they are all equal before God.
In Uganda, security forces say they too are ready, including preparing for some 100,000 people to see the pope at the Kololo Independence grounds in Kampala on Saturday. Meanwhile, Christian and Muslim leaders in the country have called for a ceasefire before Francis arrives for a two-day visit on Sunday, according to Bloomberg.
Fr Lombardi also confirmed that, despite the unrest in Bangui, capital of the diamond-rich Central African Republic, Pope Francis will travel around in an open-topped jeep rather than a bullet-proof pope mobile.
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Authorities plan to deploy around 10,000 police in the capitals of Kenya and Uganda during the pope’s visit, which will include giant open-air masses. But, he added, “As every wise person would, we’re monitoring the situation”.
