Kenyan Catholic Bishops at the start of their ad limina visit to Rome have together
with Rome-based Kenyan priests, religious and laity prayed for the departed souls
of students killed in the Garissa University College attack by Al Shabaab on 2 April
2015.
Speaking when he celebrated Holy Mass in Rome Monday, the Chairman of the Kenya Conference
of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), John Cardinal Njue, who is leading Kenyan Bishops on their
ad limina visit, urged Kenyans in Rome to pray for the souls of the departed students,
their bereaved families and for Kenya’s political leaders to steer the country towards
unity and togetherness.
Speaking at the same occasion, Mombasa Archbishop, Martin Kivuva urged leaders and
Christians all over the world not to sit idle-by and watch as evil prevails.
Making reference to the al Shabaab attack on Garissa University College that left
148 dead, Archbishop Kivuva said some Christians have resigned themselves to fate
and refuse to stand up to be counted as Christians. “Christians are charged with
responsibility to be true witnesses of Christ and therefore should do not be afraid
to be called thus,” he said.
Archbishop Kivuva condemned the terrorists and their intention to create hatred among
Kenyans by dividing the people along religious and ethnic lines and causing fear
and suspicion amongst Kenyans. “Why should we kill each other like this?” He asked.
The Mombasa Archbishop said, “Christ died to make us equal, to reach out to others
and he sends us out to bring peace and unity to the world regardless of our ethnicity
or religion” a teaching he said, that has been downplayed by Kenya’s leaders who put
their self-interests ahead of everything.
Catholic Bishops of Kenya are in Rome for their ad limina visit that started on 13
April and will end on 17 April, 2015.
Every five years Catholic Bishops all over the world visit the Pope and the Holy
See in an ad limina visit. While in Rome the Bishops venerate the tombs of the Apostles;
meet with the Pope and give an account of their Dioceses to the Holy Father.
(Rose Achiego in Nairobi; Fr. Arnold Maronga in Rome)
(e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va)
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