KENYA: Government Declares Papal Dias a National Monument, Church to Archive Pope Francis’ 2015 Events
The Papal platform that was used in 2015 by Pope Francis
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The government of Kenya through the Ministry of Culture and Heritage has declared the Papal platform that was used in 2015 by Pope Francis during his first visit to Kenya and Africa a national monument.
Making the announcement in the Kenya gazette on Friday, April 30, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Sports, Heritage and Culture, Dr. Amina Chawahir Mohamed noted that the dias considered to be “of historical interest is to be a monument within the martial of the National Museums and Heritage Act.”
She disclosed that the coverage of the monument is the whole “building known as University of Nairobi Papal Dias and the surrounding compound.”
Sharing with AMECEA online in an interview about the Papal dias which was erected on the sports ground of the University of Nairobi (UoN) being declared a national museum, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (KCCB) Chairman Archbishop Philip Arnold Anyolo said the Catholic Church is delighted to archive the Holy Father’s activities that took place during the three-day visit in the country.
“We shall write the history of the Holy Father’s visit on it so people can read and the future generation can know more about the visit, ” said Archbishop Anyolo during the Tuesday, May 4, interview.
“The writings will be on the speeches he made including issues about family and the youths, to remind the people of God the Pope’s messages,” Archbishop Anyolo continued.
According to Most Rev. Anyolo, the Pontiff’s visit was a landmark to Kenya and the first of its kind in Africa hence the Church agreed with Government that the Papal rostrum be a national heritage.
On his part Bishop Alfred Rotich who was serving as Chairman of the Secretariat handling the Pope’s visit in 2015 underscored that the Holy Father’s visit to any country has pastoral implications to the faithful. Hence the gazettement of the 2015 Papal dias, “reminds us of the Holy Father’s mission in the Church and the world.”
Bishop Rotich who is the local Ordinary of Kericho Diocese and KCCB’s Chairman for the Commission for Ecumenism, disclosed that as a national monument, the Papal dias “opens its arms for ecumenical forums, religious meetings and interventions.” Besides, “It gives a voice about the Catholic Church, that we are ready to host the conventions.”
The fact that the Papal rostrum was erected in the compound of a University, Bishop Rotich said, “It is a Church’s platform where students can use for outdoor Masses and prayer events.”
The Prelate highlighted that “it is now upon the various institutions in the Church to maximize the use of the platform.”
The Chaplain of UoN Fr. Peter Kaigua suggests that the functions of the Papal dias “need to be clearly defined as it is has three main stakeholders – the Church, Kenya Government and the University of Nairobi.
The Papal dias that has three big fully furnished rooms underneath that were used as sacristies for the Pontiff, all local Cardinals and bishops, executives and bishops from Vatican and a repository Chapel with a tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament was kept after the Holy Mass, was constructed and designed by Tectura International.
