Late Pope Francis “reminds us” of True Humility, Meaning of Jesuit, Priest, Pontiff: Clergy, Religious in Kenya

“This humility and simplicity and this commitment to be close to the poor remind us Jesuits about our vocation,” Fr. Deshi, who lectures at the Nairobi-based Jesuits’ Hekima University College (HUC) said, emphasizing how the late Pope Francis was faithful to his Jesuit identity.

Jesuits are called “first, to be simple, to live as simply as possible, but also to never forget the poor. And whatever we do, whatever assignment, whatever mission we do, we should never forget the poor, those who are forgotten,” he said.

In the April 25 interview, Fr. Deshi highlighted inclusivity as an important legacy of the late Pontiff.

There is need to keep Pope Francis’ legacy of unity and inclusivity alive, he said, adding that the “call to create one family of humanity, and admitting that we are different” should trigger the people of God to “work hard to create that unity as one family of God.”

Laid to rest on Saturday, April 26 in his “beloved” Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major as he explained in his testament, the late Pontiff had suffered a stroke that was followed by a coma and an irreversible cardiovascular collapse. He had been struggling with double pneumonia and a respiratory infection.

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The April 26 celebration was a global farewell to a humble shepherd, who was at the helm of the Catholic Church for a little more than 12 years.

Also speaking to ACI Africa on the sidelines of the late Pope Francis’ Requiem Mass that the ADN realized on April 25, Sr. Lucia Mgaya eulogized the late Pontiff as a defender of the poor.

“What I learned from the life of Pope Francis is a life of humility and service to the people who are not able to defend themselves, because he was defending the poor; for example, the nations at war and those who are not able to talk for themselves,” Sr. Lucia said.

The Tanzanian-born member of the Consolata Missionary Sisters (MC) shared the influence the late Pontiff has had on her life, saying, “Through him, I have learned to be free, to be open with people, to engage in conversation, and to live in harmony with the times.”

“He was the first Pope to live the social media life, and still, he lived his life well, and he inspired many people who were about to leave the Church to come back to live their faith,” Sr. Lucia told ACI Africa.

The MC member said that the late Pope Francis taught her and members of her Congregation the positive impact of “living the life of humility” and the need to show “empathy, and to treat people well; to treat people according to the Gospel.”

In his homily during the April 25 Requiem Mass, the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, said that the passing on of Pope Francis has left “an enormous void” in the Catholic Church.

“When reflecting on the life and the death of our Holy Father, it became evident to me that he leaves an enormous void behind, and that reveals his importance to the world. We are all left a bit orphaned, a bit abandoned,” Archbishop van Megen said during the Eucharistic celebration he presided over at ADN’s Holy Family Minor Basilica.

“We will miss his loving smile, and we will miss his tender care and words for refugees, prisoners, the poor, and yes, us poor sinners,” he said, and continued, “I will miss personally his fatherly love.”

Also speaking to ACI Africa on April 25, Br. Pio Kimathi of the Congregation of the Brothers of Christian Instruction (FIC) said that Pope Francis has “inspired us to love children just as Jesus loved children.”

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“What I learned most is being a servant leader in humility, so that I can continue serving the Church,” Br. Kimathi said.

On his part, Dennis Ndege, a faithful of ADN, eulogized the late Pope Francis as kind and humble.

Mr. Ndege cited the habit the late Pontiff had of carrying his bag during pastoral visits saying this was a testament of his simplicity and servant leadership.

“That's a sign of humility,” he said, adding that Pope Francis Pontificate “has brought a lot of changes to the whole Catholic Church.”