All Africa report: Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin has urged Catholics in the Eastern African region to continue to pray for the current Pope, Benedict XVI and his pontificate.
He said this to a congregation of cardinals, archbishops, priests, religious men and women and the laity, who were attending a special Mass he was presiding to mark the Pope's 60th priestly ordination at Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi. He said that the Pope has a big heart for the people in the region and the African continent as a whole.
The occasion took place at Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, next to the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, where Association of Members Episcopal Conference of Eastern Africa (AMECEA), is holding its 17th plenary assembly, under the theme: AMECEA family of God celebrating a Golden jubilee of evangelization in solidarity.
The plenary assembly, which has brought together over 300 delegates; cardinals, archbishops, priests, religious men and women and the laity as well as representatives of the Holy See (Vatican) and Church partners, will also mark the Golden jubilee on the association.
The Pope was elected to the pontificate in the year 2005, replacing the late Pope John Paul II, who was beatified on May 1, 2011.During the official opening of the assembly, a message was read out that was expected to be sent to the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI as he marks his 60th anniversary on his priesthood June 29, 2011.
Pope Benedict XV made his first pastoral visit to Africa in the year 2009 where he visited Cameroon and Angola and will revisit the continent again in November (18-20) in Benin, West Africa.
In Benin, he will promulgate a special report on the Second African Synod, which took place in Rome in the year 2009 and under the theme: The Church at the service of reconciliation, justice and peace.
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