Pope Francis meets Gay Christian Africa
Wednesday, 1st May, at the General Audience in the Vatican, a delegation of Gay Christian Africa was present and equally met with His Holiness. It was a great opportunity that offered our delegation a chance to share insights into our mission with His Holiness while expressing our gratitude for the steps his pontificate is putting in making the Catholic church a more pluralistic and inclusive home for all; in a special way for Queer people in Africa who hopes to live in the future in a safe society devoid of anti LGBTQ laws, atrocity and discrimination.
During his reflection, the Holy Father focused on the first theological virtue “Faith”. describing it as “the act by which the human being freely commits himself to God.” He also expressed closeness to everyone, most importantly to all those affected by the severe floods that have devastated Kenya causing at least 170 deaths, and massive displacement caused by the destruction. “I wish to convey to the people of Kenya my spiritual closeness at this time when a severe flood has tragically taken the lives of many of our brothers and sisters, injuring others and causing widespread destruction,” He said during the general audience addressing English-speaking pilgrims. For us, the floods left many affected persons, including LGBTQ brothers and sisters, in a very critical situation in Tanzania, Burundi, and Kenya.
It could be recalled, that at the beginning of April; Gay Christian Africa wrote a letter to His Holiness, sharing with him our work and our recent experiences of two spiritual retreats carried on in the East and Central Africa early this year. Pope Francis thanked us for our work and assured us his closeness. “Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for your work and your prayers. I am close to you and I pray for you. Please do the same for me. May the Lord bless you” He wrote to us.
This pilgrims marked a consolidation on the Church’s borderless love as welcoming as a father for his shepherd.
