Learn Servant Leadership from Papal Conclave, Election of Pope Leo XIV: Catholic Bishop in Kenya to African Governments

Such motives, the Local Ordinary of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Nakuru said, lead to instabilities that he said some African countries are now accustomed to.

“We are used to systems, where elections are not fair. We are used to systems, where there are a lot of conflicts and struggles for power. But the Church is not about power. It is about service to the people,” Bishop Oseso told ACI Africa at the Priestly Ordination of three Kenyan Spiritans in his Episcopal See.

Bishop Cleophas Oseso Tuka of Kenya's Nakuru Diocese. Credit: ACI Africa

He added, “I believe that most of our leaderships, even civil leaders, can learn from this Papal Conclave and seek to be in office for the sake of service. But I think a lot of them go seeking power for the sake of personal enrichment.”

“Our leaders should go into office with an open heart of service, not seeking self-glorification, power, and self-enrichment,” the Bishop of Nakuru Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in May 2023 emphasized.

He went on to laud the efficiency of the 2025 Conclave in settling for Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, noting that the 133 Cardinal Electors’ quick decision indicates their full confidence in the 69-year-old member of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA), who becomes the first Pontiff from the USA.

The Kenyan Catholic Bishop expressed optimism that Pope Leo XIV will not only proceed with the legacy of the late Pope Francis but also “bring new thinking and perhaps new approaches that will help the Church to face the challenges of the modern world.”

Credit: ACI Africa

Recalling first address of Pope Leo XIV as the Pontiff, Bishop Oseso said, “He began with a word of peace and so, we hope that he is going to be the sign of that peace as we continue to experience tensions in different parts of the world.”

“We want to pray that the Church becomes that symbol of hope, to be able to steer dialogue to help in reconciling various warring groups,” the Bishop of Nakuru said.

On the choice of the name Leo, Bishop Oseso said he foresees a Pontiff, who will seek to walk in the footsteps of his predecessor Leo XIII in promoting social justice.

“Leo XIII was a champion of social justice, especially in his encyclical, Rerum Novarum in which he talked about the dignity of the human person, the dignity of work, and the need to pay a just wage to workers,” Bishop Oseso said, referring to the May 1891 Encyclical Letter on capital and labour.

“Have no fear! Trust in the Lord” Pope Leo XIV waves at a massive, jubilant crowd gathered on St. Peter’ s Square for the Regina Coeli on Sunday, May 11, 2025

He added, “The choice of the name Leo gives us an indication of what the inclination of our new Pope is going to be. He will perhaps address social concerns, social justice, and seek to make the Church become a symbol of hope in society and to promote the dignity of the human person.”

In his estimation, Bishop Oseso said that the new Pontiff will also strive to make the Church vibrant in areas where faith seems to be fading.

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Credit: ACI Africa

“In Africa, we are happy because of how fast the Church is growing, but we are sad about the situation in the West where the faith is going down,” the Kenyan Catholic Bishop said, and added, “We hope that by his election, especially him being American, will steer the vigour of faith in those parts of the world.”

He further expressed optimism that Pope Leo XIV would keep Africa close to his heart, following the example of the late Pope Francis, who maintained closeness with the continent through his multiple pastoral visits and messages of solidarity.

“Many Africans were happy with the direction that Pope Francis was taking the Church. We also believe that Pope Leo XIV will continue with the late Holy Father’s legacy and put the Church in Africa close to his heart because this is where faith is growing and it therefore needs a lot of support despite the challenges that most of the regions are going through,” Bishop Oseso said.

“We in Africa are a Church of hope,” he said, and continued, “We hope that we are going to join hands with him to be able to promote faith in this region, and even to help other regions that are perhaps lacking ministers to evangelize.”

Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square on May 8, 2025 wearing the traditional garb for a new pope, a red mozzetta and a stole over a white rochet and his new white cassock. (photo: Daniel Ibanez / EWTN)

“Just as the early missionaries planted the seed of faith in Africa, which grew and continues to blossom, it is our turn to go out and promote faith in the regions where there is dire need,” he said at the Priestly Ordination of three Spiritans, members of the 322-year-old missionary Congregation that pioneered Catholic evangelization in Kenya.

The Kenyan Catholic Bishop congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election, saying, “We wish him the best, and assure him of our support and prayers.”