Pope Francis with the Religious in Kenya

Pope Francis Thursday held a special meeting with priests, religious men and women, and seminarians at St. Mary's School in Nairobi, Kenya. Putting aside his prepared text, the Holy Father spoke of the joy of priesthood and religious life, saying it is a life of radical service to the Gospel and of the radical faithfulness to Christ that is the guarantee of happiness and success.

Pope Francis urged them to serve others and not be served.

The head of the English Africa Service, Fr. Paul Samasumo is travelling with the Pope and sent us this report…

We were walking to the venue where Pope Francis was to meet the religious when a brother of the order of Xaverian Brothers enthusiastically approached me and asked me, “Do you know how many people are in this Marquee?” I had no idea, so I decided to challenge him back, “Well, do you know ?” “Yes, more than, 8000 he said. I am the one who was in charge of the seating arrangement and we had planned for between 8 to 10 000.  So that was it, 8 000 priests, religious men and women, novices, postulants and seminarians.

And they come they did from all parts of Kenya. Every seat in the Marquee was taken.

As Pope Francis entered the St. Mary’s school grounds where the meeting took place, the whole congregation erupted into ululation as they started to sing Ni Baraka ku toka kwa Mungu.” This is now a trademark anthem of the Archbishop of Nairobi, Cardinal John Njue. He sings it at all parishes of Nairobi when he goes for confirmations.

There are over 200 institutes of consecrated and religious life in Kenya. The Church especially mostly through the religious run more than 8 000 schools and health institutions. Pope Francis was, therefore, meeting one of the most active sectors of the Church in Kenya.

Pope Francis spoke off the cuff and touched the hearts of his listeners as encouraged the religious to pray, to seek to save.

 Travelling on the Apostolic journey to Africa, I am Fr. Paul Samasumo.