Gachagua lauds Pope Leo XIV for becoming leader of Catholic church
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has hailed Robert Prevost for becoming the 267th Pope of the Catholic church.
In a statement on Thursday, May 8, 2025, evening, Gachagua indicated that Prevost, who will be called Pope Leo XIV, had a good history with the country, having visited Kenya in 2024.
“Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost, congratulations on your election as the new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Our prayers are with you as you lead the over 1.4 billion Catholic Faithful in the World. May the Almighty God be with you and guide you greatly,” Gachagua stated.
“You have a history of visiting our beloved country, Kenya, and we greatly feel your love as a nation. To the Catholic Faithful in Kenya, you are one Church under Christ, so united as one, just as Christ always asked us to be.”
Prevost becomes the first American to be pope after succeeding the late Pope Francis, who died from breathing complications on April 21, 2025, aged 88 years.
Ruto hails new Pope
President William Ruto has equally hailed the new Pope following his election after two days of cardinals meeting at the Vatican.
In a statement shortly after the pope was elected, Ruto urged the pontiff to become a voice for the voiceless and a champion for world peace and justice.
“Congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on your election as the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. May your papacy be a shining light of love, hope, and compassion; may it uplift the poor, give voice to the voiceless, heal divisions, and steadfastly champion peace, justice, and the sanctity of human dignity around the world,” Ruto said.
Adding: “May your leadership inspire faith, unity, and moral renewal today and for generations to come. Congratulations!”
First American Pope
Leo becomes the first American to be elected as the Pope of the Catholic church at just 69 years of age. The Chicago-born pontiff is regarded as a man of humility and concern for the downtrodden and the poor of the world.
He steps into the shoes of the late Pope Francis, who was known to be a force for good in the world in his humility and service to the Catholic church.
Pope Leo XIV considers himself a missionary still, having spent the majority of his service for the church in South America before moving to work full-time at the Vatican.
“I still consider myself a missionary. My vocation, like that of every Christian, is to be a missionary, to proclaim the Gospel wherever one is,” he said after his election on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
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Arnold Ngure
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