Pope Leo XIV on Monday, May 26, sent a message to Kenyans and the African continent praising Africa’s strong Christian faith.
In what was an extraordinary moment, the Pope stayed true to his earlier commitment to reaching out to all Catholics worldwide and further urged African Christians to be “signs of hope.”
“Bara la Afrika linatoa ushuhuda mkubwa kwa ulimwengu mzima. Asante kwa kuishi imani yenu katika Yesu Kristo. Ni jinsi ilivyo muhimu kwamba kila mbatizwa ajisikie kuitwa na Mungu kuwa ishara ya matumaini katika Ulimwengu wa leo.”
This is loosely translated to:
“The continent of Africa gives great witness to the whole world. Thank you for living your faith in Jesus Christ. How important it is that each and every baptised person feel himself or herself called by God to be a sign of hope in the world today!”
Typically, most communications sent out by the papacy are in English, Latin, Italian, French, Spanish or German, with Swahili not an official Vatican language.
However, in the past, the late Pope Francis often included short blessings or greetings in Swahili when addressing pilgrims from East Africa during general audiences at the Vatican or in special messages.
During his visit to Kenya in 2015, there were moments where Swahili was used in Mass celebrations and public ceremonies.
One notable moment is at State House during his visit where he ended his speech with the words, “Mungu ibariki Kenya.(God bless Kenya)”
In another moment, Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis’ predecessor, surprised many when he chose to address the congregation in Swahili during a mass at Uhuru Park on his third visit to the country in 1995.
“Ziara yangu imemalizika haraka sana. Nimefurahia tena kuwepo hapa nchini Kenya. Nawashukuruni nyote kwa ukarimu wenu na upendo (My visit has ended very fast. I have liked my stay in Kenya and I thank you for your kindness and love),” he said.
Pope Leo XIV’s Swahili message marked a first, as no Pope has ever issued a full message in Swahili on social media.
This is particularly notable as Swahili is spoken by approximately 100 million people in East and Central Africa. A message in Swahili can be seen as a way for the Pope to promote inclusion amongst Catholics in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Such a message could symbolise a growing recognition of the African Church's global role, even as the African Catholic population drastically rises.
Currently, Africa has an estimated 265 million Catholics out of a global estimate of 2 billion, representing a significant portion of the global figure.
Before becoming a pontiff, Pope Leo XIV previously visited Kenya, where he presided over the dedication of the new chapel of Our Mother of Good Counsel at the International House of St. Augustine Convent in Karen, Nairobi County, on December 10, 2024.
Notably, during his December 2024 visit, the former Cardinal also recalled that he had also been to Kenya in 2011. "It is a blessing to be back," he said then.
Pope Leo XIV was elected on Thursday evening, becoming the first US-born pontiff. The 69-year-old who hails from Chicago was chosen as the 267th Pope, replacing Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88 years.
