Pope in Africa: Talking with Muslims is not optional extra anymore, Pope Francis tells Kenyan faithful

During a meeting with faith leaders in Nairobi, Pope Francis stressed the Catholic Church’s commitment to ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue as set out by the Second Vatican Council which he said was essential in an increasingly conflict-ridden world. 

At the apostolic nunciature the Pope said such a dialogue is not an “optional extra” anymore and cited the terrorist atrocities that have taken place in Kenya recently citing the killings at Westgate shopping mall, Garissa University College and a village near Mandera.   

“His holy name must never be used to justify hatred and violence,” the Pope told the gathering. 

“All too often, young people are being radicalised in the name of religion to sow discord and fear, and to tear at the very fabric of our societies. How important it is that we be seen as prophets of peace, peacemakers who invite others to live in peace, harmony and mutual respect!”

Francis pointed out that 2015 marks the 50th anniversary since the closing of Vatican II which produced documents that set the blueprint for a new engagement of the Church with fellow christians and religions. 

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“I wish to reaffirm this commitment, which is born of our conviction of the universality of God’s love and the salvation which he offers to all. The world rightly expects believers to work together with people of good will in facing the many problems affecting our human family.” 

Before he spoke, the Pope heard from Anglican Archbishop Eliud Wabukala of the Diocese of All Saints Cathedral and Muslim leader Professor Abdulghafur H.S. El-Busaidy, chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims. 

The latter said that Muslims in Kenya total 30 per cent of the 40 million population - however this figure is disputed with the 2009 census putting the figure at 11 per cent - and that the community seeks to respond to the social concerns of people. His group, he added, has championed inter-faith dialogue in seeking to establish “common ground for peaceful co-existence”.

Clergy wait to see Pope Francis serve Mass in Nairobi on Wednesday (PA)

Professor El-Busaidy pointed to the writings of Hans Kung - the progressive Swiss theologian and priest who served as an adviser at Vatican II - as a way of crossing religious divides. 

He cited the famous “global ethic” quote from Kung which states: “No peace among the nations without peace among the religions. No peace among the religions without dialogue between the religions. No dialogue between the religions without investigation of the foundation of the religions.”

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Read all of Pope Francis' speeches and homilies during his trip to Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic on The Tablet.

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This morning the Pope is celebrating Mass at the campus of the University of Nairobi and this afternoon is meeting clergy and religious at St Mary’s school. He will then travel to the United Nations office to speak on issues related to climate change.

It will be the second talk he will have given to the UN in two months after delivering major address to the organisations headquarters in New York at the end of September. 

Francis is keen to see international agreement on climate change at the UN summit of global leaders in Paris which starts on Monday. His encyclical on the environment, Laudato si’, published in May, was timed to make an impact on those discussions.