The funeral of Pope Francis has drawn leaders from every corner of the world to St Peter’s Square and Africa is making its presence felt.
President William Ruto of Kenya, fresh from a state visit to China, touched down in Italy early Saturday morning, joined by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula. They join a distinguished delegation of African heads of state attending the burial ceremony, underscoring the deep respect the continent holds for the late pontiff.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, was a figure of enormous significance for Africa, often speaking out on issues like poverty, conflict, and inequality realities that have shaped many African nations’ recent histories. His outreach to the developing world, and repeated calls for fairness on the global stage, earned him admiration far beyond traditional Catholic strongholds.
Among the African leaders joining Ruto in Rome are Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, João Lourenço of Angola, José Maria Neves of Cape Verde, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema of Gabon, Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic, and Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo.
Their presence is more than ceremonial. It reflects the broader influence Pope Francis wielded across the African continent not only within the Catholic Church, which continues to grow rapidly in Africa, but also as a moral voice on global justice.
For leaders like Ruto, the funeral is a moment to honor a man who championed many of the causes Africa still fights for today: dignity, equity, and peace.
As St Peter’s Square fills with mourners from around the world, Africa’s flags fly high among them a visible reminder that Pope Francis’s message reached the farthest corners of the globe, and that his impact on the continent will long outlive his papacy.
