Kenya: homecoming Cardinal Njue receives huge welcome

Newly created Cardinal John Njue arrived in Nairobi from Rome yesterday to a huge welcome by hundreds of people, led by the country's Vice President, Mr Moody Awori. The plane carrying Cardinal Njue arrived at Jomo Kenyatta Airport at 7.30 local time. At 10 o'clock, Cardinal Njue presided over his first Mass as Cardinal at Nairobi's Holy Family Minor Basilica, before planting two trees - one within the premises of the Basilica and the other at the nearby Kenyatta International Conference Centre. In his homily, Cardinal stressed the need for Christians to uphold Christian teachings. He said: "we are all equal in the eyes of God" and each of us has value, not because of his/her physical make, but by being created by God". .."each of us must always feel obliged to ask whether we are committed to the teachings of God in our day-to-day life." The new cardinal told the huge congregation, which included the former head of the Nairobi archdiocese, His Grace Ndingi Mwana a'Nzeki, to always remain obedient to the Word of God, while respecting human dignity and people's value. We must always strive to be obedient to the Christian teachings and respect for human dignity irrespective of our human status-politicians, economists or professionals, he stressed. He also stressed the importance of partaking in the Eucharist. "This must always remain our main focus as women, youth, men, clergy and religious in short, Men and women of God", he pointed out. He said he had accepted the new responsibility with humility and urged the Catholic community to cooperate with him as he strives to partake in the new pastoral service. And as he planted the trees; Cardinal Njue stressed the need for the Church to participate fully on environmental issues. "Part of the reasons for this is that God lead on the issue when he created the earth and has equally urged us Christians to be the caretakers of it the earth."