{UAH} A million at Papal Mass in spite of rain!

Heavy rains that have poured on Nairobi did nothing to deter

the determination of Kenyans who turned up in their hundreds of thousands

or even a full million if we add on those who followed on giant screens in

the capital's two big parks. All faithful, agreed on one thing that the downpours

which started last night were God's blessing on Kenyans for having shown such

a great enthusiasm to the Pope! They braved the rain right from last night when crowds began coming to the vast university campus grounds. Kenyans have been heroic for Pope Francis! Ugandans too won't fail the test!

The soaked Mass was conducted in English with some aspects of it going to latin, swahili, and Masaï. The Pope's sermon was in Italian and was translated in English by one of those great Vatican linguists ( some of whom speech fluently 8 languages). A good number of these language scholars are part of the Pope's the accompanying team, and many of them are regularly seen doing translation on the occasion of the Pope's weekly general audience every Wednesday. All these linguistic aspects added value to the gospel read at Mass in which Christ instructs the apostles to spread the word of God to all nations. And subsquently during the sermon the Pope pointed to what the spread of the gospel has done to Kenya...whose faithful he advised to adhere to christ's word since it was the real true rock on which to build a Christian life.

One of the most touching phases of the Mass was when time to offer peace to one another in the congregation arrived! It was very impressive seeing President Uhuru Kenyatta shaking hands not only with his predecessor H.E. Mr Emilio Mwai Kibaki and the cabinet but also with the members of opposition including Raila Odinga! A mature Kenya at work? And Uhuru and Mwai Kibaki took holy communion.

The whole Mass impressed all viewers who enjoyed its African melody, dancing, and chanting together with the incessant ululations and applauses that even accompanied the Pope's great sermon. the same effects had to be witnessed again when Nairobi's Cardinal Archbishop John Njue rose to thank the Pope for the Mass as well as for accepting to come to Kenya and making the country his first stop on his itinerary!  he described the Pope's presence as a source of spirituality standing as a pillar for anything positive in man's life. He thanked the Govt and the preparation committees and the people of Kenya for the investment in the Pope's visit. He was veryu grateful to President Uhuru for the enormous task he carried out on the project. He appreciated the presence of the very many delegations from various countries.

Finally, the Pope donated a chalice to the Archdiocese of Nairobi ( among deafening cheers and ululations) and he blessed the congregation before greeting President Uhuru Kenyatta and his wife.

Then in a Popemobile he was driven back to the Nunciature waving to countless crowds all along the way.

Earlier on, before coming for the Mass, he had met various religious leaders at the Nunciature He reminded that all religions looked at god as a source of peace, it was therefore wrong to use God's name to promote violence. He appealed for a concrete dialogue between all faiths.

The charismatic Pope has been described by Kenyans as an angel of peace present among them in Nairobi. Many told journalists that the great man's presence has given to the place relief. And one gentleman said noise has also disappeared from Nairobi!

In the afternoon the Pope had two functions to perform : one, meeting all religious and priests and seminarists. Two, addressing the UNEP. Thousands of religious gathered in a very large tent where they welcomed the pope with cheers, applauses and high pitch ululations. The Bishop in-charge of the religious in Kenya addressed words of welcome to the Pope. He outlined the role of the religious in Kenya and the challenges they face. And he was strongly applauded when he appealed to the entire assembly to support the Pope.

A White Father of Zambian origin spoke on behalf of priests and enumerated the roles they involve in to promote programmes, partnerships, etc.. He was cheered at the end of his intervention.

Then an Irish nun, chairman of all religious associations in Kenya, stated that there were 5000 religious in Kenya. She underlined their action in the country puttind accent on competences and challenges. Finally she asked for the Pope's prayers. Ululations!

Then the Pope was requested to give a word. He thanked the audience ( in English ) and delivered his speech in Spanish with a Vatican monsignor doing the translation in English. he qualified the church as a mystery for everyone and not an enterprise or an NGO. He asked anybody within the assembly who wasn't a sinner to put up his hand. Seeing no hand up the Pope said he was also a sinner like anybody, adding that when Christ called each one of them he never canonized them but gave them a mission to serve and not to be served. He stressed on the importance of feeling confident before Christ because he was openly available to them all. he cited the example of St Peter who denied Jesus, and when he repented he gave him;authority over his Church as the first Pope. It was here that Christ's vision proved a mystery. He advised them never to move away from Christ and never to stop praying. The end of his speech received a strong standing ovation. He gave his blessing and moved out among deafening cheers and ululations! And these accompanied him all the way along to the UNEP.

On arrival at this UN centre the Pope was greeted by the director General and his team of executives. The vast entry hall was peopled by dozens and dozens of cameramen and ululating officials of the organization. While inside the main Assembly Hall 3,000 guests and international observers from all over the world had already taken their seats. The pope was taken to a special corner where he signed the official Visitors Book.When his delegation of cardinals, bishops and senior Vatican monsignors entered it was received with deafening cheers and ululations! And it was a very much heavier story when the pope entered surrounded by directors. He was formally introduced to the Asseembly by the Director General  who informed him that Nairobi was Hqrs to UNEP and UN Habitat, two powerful organizations. The Director of the UN Habitat on his part praised the Pope's recent encyclical letter on environment " Laudato si "

And another high official outlined the challenges and difficulties they have.

All of them thanked the Pope for coming to address the Assembly.

Then the Pope stood to deliver his historic intervention which  too was followed by hundreds of millions of viewers all over the globe. He condemned trafficking and the mondialization of indifference on nature and environment. He called for a new culture on the protection of environment. Turning to climate, he described it as a common good to all and for all. He attacked that spirit of letting a few to dominate questions on nature and environment at the expense of the entire humanity.

The end of his very brilliant speech was received with a standing ovation that lasted for minutes. Before he was taken away, there was that exchange of gifts.

He had difficulty in moving out of the Hall as many curious officials jostled to touch on his or to photograph him.

Tomorrow Friday Nov 27, 2015 he will visit the leading Nairobi shanty and say Mass there after which he will go to a studium to address tens of thousands of youths. Later it will be the farewell ceremony at the airport for his flight to Uganda where millions and millions of people are going to madly cheer him. The Ugandan welcome will definitely break records! And the rumoured 700 international pressmen and their collaborators present on the spot will give effect to great moments in Kampala.

Dr G.H. Kkolokolo ( Paris / France )

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