09:52
Kenyas
Catholic looks forward to Pope Francis’ first visit from November 25 to 27. On Sunday
they will begin special prayers and night vigils in preparation for the visit
of Pope. This will be his first visit to Africa since his election in March
2013.
Organizers say 1.5 million people are expected in
Nairobi for the historic visit.
His Holiness Francis will make an
Apostolic Trip to Kenya from 25 to 27 November 2015, Uganda from 27 to 29 November, and the Central African Republic from
29 to 30 November. The programme of the trip will be published in due
course.
In Kenya due to logistical and security arrangements, it
will not be a free for all affair, unlike in the past Papal masses. Special arrangements have been made for dioceses to
only allow a limited number of people at the mass at University of Nairobi’s
graduation square. About 200,000 congregants will be allowed inside the
square. The rest will watch on giant screens put up around Uhuru Park, Central
Park and other public places in the city.
See also: Obama visit in Kenya
The four Kenyan Archdioceses of Nairobi, Kisumu,
Mombasa and Nyeri have 26 dioceses and one Military Ordinariate. The
ordinariate is without a bishop now following the retirement of Bishop Col
Alfred Rotich.
Rotich is in charge the national committee organising
the Pope’s visit assisted by the Rev Dr Stephen Okello, a Consolata Missionary
who organised the last Papal visit to Kenya in 1995.
In Nairobi, the epicentre of the celebrations,
arrangements are in full gear. Inside the Holy Family Minor Basilica, there is
a full length colour portrait of Pope Francis in his symbolic blessing salute
to the congregation.
