Catholic Bishops in Kenya Laud Govt’s Declaration of 2015 Papal Mass Site As National Monument

Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has welcomed government’s declaration of the site where Pope Francis presided over public Holy Mass during his 2015 visit to the country as a national monument, noting that the declaration is an honor to the Church and the Holy Father.

In the Kenya Gazette notice Number 40114 of April 30, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Sports, Heritage and Culture, Amina Mohamed, declared the “building known University of Nairobi Papal Dias and the surrounding compound” a national monument.

According to reports by ACIAfrica, the General Secretary of KCCB, Fr. Ferdinand Lugonzo, said that the gazettement of the 2015 Papal Dias “shows the honor that the government has given to the Holy Father.

“It means that that it remains in the memories of the present and future generations of this country that Pope Francis visited the country and we want to relive those memories by protecting the Holy place where he celebrated (Holy) Mass for the nation,” Fr. Lugonzo said.

The members of KCCB have welcomed the gazettement of the building located at the University of Nairobi (UoN) as a national monument, he further said.

The gazettement “also strengthens the appreciation that the government of Kenya has towards the Catholic Church,” the Kenyan Priest said in reference to the Papal Dias used during the 26 November 2015 Papal public Holy Mass that was designed and constructed by Tectura International.

In the May 2 interview with ACI Africa, Fr. Lugonzo further said, “With such structures being gazetted as national monuments, then it is another way to show the high regard for the Catholic Church and the work it does.”

(Culled from ACI Africa for Nigeria Catholic Network)