Pope Francis in Africa calls for a global, “transformational agreement for Africa”

Only three days before the opening of Cop21, the climate summit in Paris that will bring no less than 147 Heads of State to convene in the city tragically struck by terrorist attacks, with extensive security measures, in a highly anticipated speech – the most comprehensive, long and articulated speech of the apostolic visit – at the “headquarters” of the UN in Nairobi, home to two global programs based in Africa, on the environment and the habitat, Pope Francis met up to expectations quoting several times from Laudato si’ and from his historic speech of September 25 at the UN headquarters in New York with an admonition to “world leaders” that sounds like an imperative:

“It would be sad, and dare I say even catastrophic, were special interests to prevail over the common good and lead to manipulating information in order to protect their own plans and interests”.

Pope Francis said he hopes that Cop21 “will achieve a global and “ransformational agreement based on the principles of solidarity, justice, equality and participation; an agreement which targets three complex and interdependent goals: lessening the impact of climate change, fighting poverty and ensuring respect for human dignity”.

A much-needed “change of course”, “a new culture”, is the Pope’s proposal. A culture of care – care for oneself, care for others, care for the environment – in place of a culture of waste, a “throw-away culture where people use and discard themselves, others and the environment”.

The second day of the Papal visit to Kenya began with an ecumenical and interreligious meeting in Nairobi: “dialogue is not a luxury”, Francis said.

“The God whom we seek to serve is a God of peace”:

It’s the core message of the Pope during his journey to Africa, reiterated on several occasions: “His holy Name must never be used to justify hatred and violence” – as was the case of the “barbarous attacks on Westgate Mall, Garissa University College and Mandera”, Francis recalled, referring to one of the most tragic events that recently hit Kenya. “All too often, young people are being radicalized in the name of religion to sow discord and fear, and to tear at the very fabric of our societies”, was the Pope’s cry of alarm. Renewed appeal to young people – “shape a society which is ever more just, inclusive and respectful of human dignity” – he said before a crowd of 1.5 million people, willing to follow Mass standing with their feet in the mud (on that very day rain fell heavily on this stretch of African soil) to attend in person Francis’ first visit to their Continent. “The health of any society depends on the health of its families”, the Pope said, families are the antidote to the “new deserts” created by a culture of materialism and indifference.

In the final part of his speech in Spanish, the Pope guarded against “illegal forms of trafficking which arise in situations of poverty, thereby leading to further poverty and exclusion”. These are: “illegal trade in diamonds and precious stones, rare metals or those of great strategic value, wood, biological material and animal products, such as ivory trafficking and the relative killing of elephants”. All of this, His Holiness underlined, “fuels political instability, organized crime and terrorism”.

Before delivering his speech at UNON, planting a tree in the park of the United Nations gardens, Pope Francis met with the clergy, the religious men and women and seminarians in the sports field of St. Mary’s School of Nairobi.  The Pope put aside his written speech and gave a 20-minute impromptu speech in his native language.  “Those who are called by Jesus must enter through the door and not through the window”:  you must never follow Jesus “for your own ambition, for wealth, or to hold an important position in the world.” “The Church is not a business, it’s not an NGO.” “We are all sinners, I’m the first sinner.” “You must never stop crying” and praying, he said. “We follow Jesus to serve others, not to serve ourselves of Others”.