Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has eulogised the late Pope Francis as a humble, servant leader who embodied the teachings of Jesus Christ and left an indelible mark on the world.

Speaking during a requiem mass at Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi on Friday, April 25, Kenyatta reflected on his personal encounters with the Pontiff, describing them as deeply moving.

Despite leading the world’s largest Christian denomination, Pope Francis, he said, always chose humility over grandeur.

“We gather to remember and celebrate the life of a man who truly walked in the path of Jesus. A man who, despite his high position, did not walk in and amongst the high and mighty in the world,” said Kenyatta.

He added: “Like Jesus, he chose to walk amongst the poor and those most in need. A true lesson and example of what we call servant leadership.”

In November 2015, during Pope Francis’s first visit to Africa, Kenya was his initial stop before traveling to Uganda and the Central African Republic.

Kenyatta reminisced about the papal visit when he had to balance between the religious and diplomatic formalities of the event, a challenge the easy-going persona of the Holy Father diffused.

“I had the pleasure and honour to meet him twice, and the memories of those meetings remain dear and close to me,” he said.

“When he came, without mentioning names, someone really pressed me for an audience with Pope Francis in my office, the same venue where I had met Obama and other world leaders. The Pope agreed to the meeting,” revealed Kenyatta.

But what followed caught even the head of state off guard. An awkward silence which the Pope broke when he asked why President Kenyatta was intruding into a private moment. “I thought you said he wanted to talk to me,” Francis reportedly asked Kenyatta, perhaps expressing his surprise. 

“For the first time, as president, another head of state threw me out of my office.”

The congregation erupted in laughter, a brief light moment in a service presided over by Archbishop Bert Van Megen, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, appointed by the late Pontiff.

The mass drew prominent clergy, including Archbishop Philip Anyolo of Nairobi, Cardinal John Njue, and Archbishop Martin Kivuva of Mombasa.

Also present were Chief Justice Martha Koome, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, PLP leader Martha Karua, former Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

In her tribute, Koome, who represented the Judiciary, urged Kenyans to draw lessons from the Pope’s dedication to service and work ethic, which contributed to his glowing legacy.

“We can ask ourselves whether we are sowing seeds of love or hate, seeds of peace or violence, seeds of unity or disunity,” she posed. 

Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 following heart failure, will be laid to rest tomorrow at St Peter’s Square, Basilica in the Vatican.