A Catholic priest in Kenya welcomed King Charles’ meeting with religious leaders during his visit to the country as a positive sign for interfaith dialogue.
On his first visit to a Commonwealth nation since his accession, the King met religious leaders at the 120-year-old Anglican Mombasa Memorial Cathedral, and also visited an historic mosque.
The clerics – convened under the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics (CICC) – came from Christian denominations, Muslim groups and African traditional religions. They explained how they use interfaith dialogue to address threats to peace, security and development.
“Currently, we have so many interreligious conflicts in the world. These conflicts have caused economic problems, retrogression, and disrupted peace and unity in many countries,” said Fr Richard Ooko Airo, the director of interreligious dialogue at the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.
“So, having a king who is also counted as the head of the church visit, is very significant. When he visited the religious centres, it was an indication that the church is ready for interfaith dialogue and reconciliation.”
According to Fr Airo, the visit showed that there is goodwill for renewed discussion and reconciliation between different faiths in Kenya.
King Charles and Queen Camilla travelled to Kenya on 31 October. The visit had prompted calls for the King to make an apology for British abuses during the colonial era.
He fell short of an apology, but expressed the UK’s “greatest sorrow and deepest regret” for the wrongs of the past.
On 3 November, the last day of his visit, Charles sat in a circle with the religious leaders in a chapel of Mombasa cathedral, where they explained how they worked to promote peaceful co-existence and tolerance in their communities.
The Revd Stephen Anyenda, the chief executive officer of the CICC, explained that the council brings together the eight major religious groups in the coastal region.
“Our major areas of focus are peacebuilding and conflict transformation. We have been looking at these areas because due to ignorance of the other’s faith, there is suspicion and mistrust. The knowledge about each other has brought about cooperation and respect,” he said.
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