Pope Francis, Magufuli and the sin of Rwandanisation

For five days last week East Africa enjoyed being in the spotlight for reasons other than war, terrorism or other terrible disasters. Pope Francis was visiting Kenya and Uganda in this region, and the Central African Republic, which is not very far from here, where Rwandan troops are helping keep the peace and Ugandan LRA rebels have been holed up for some time. The papal visit brought a lot of expectations, one of which was that the demons in the region would flee from the holy presence of the pontiff. And they probably did – for the duration of his visit. For instance in Kenya and Uganda, it brought out good behaviour from politicians for whom good manners are usually incompatible with their occupation, or in fact an occupational risk to be avoided at all costs. There was a truce of sorts and the usually bickering politicians sat together at the papal functions like obedient school children. It even managed to get President Yoweri Museveni and Dr Kiiza Besigye to shake hands, something both men had studiously avoided for the last fifteen years. Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta acknowledged the power of one of the most devious demons in the region and asked the Pope to pray for him so that he could deal effectively with corruption. No doubt the president’s prayer will be granted. After all it is the Pope’s business to pray for all – the powerful and ordinary mortals, those unwilling to undertake some actions and those only too eager to act. Whether that is sufficient to drive out the demon remains to be seen. In the Central African Republic, President Catherine Panza, saw the papal visit as an opportunity for collective confession of politicians’ failures that had resulted in the massacres of hundreds of thousands of innocent people. She sounded very sincere and contrite, and will no doubt receive absolution. But whether that is enough to end the conflict in her country is another thing. Some in the international media sought to bring some of the demons to the fore. It is not clear whether the intention was to have them banished for good or to give them a permanent prominent place. They wanted to parade gay issues before the Holy Father. He refused to be drawn into the emotive debate and probably said silently to the temptation to be involved: get thee behind me, Satan. But politicians’ good behaviour can only be temporary. They would not be true to themselves if they did not seek to get political mileage out of every situation. They did on this occasion. They jostled to have the pontiff’s ear and have him endorse their different standpoints on various issues. Of course, he wisely avoided getting into their partisan quarrels. They are also given to extravagant claims and will twist political meaning out of the most innocuous gesture. And so to Dr Kiiza Besigye, the handshake signified that President Museveni had already conceded defeat in next February’s polls. Pope Francis did not visit Rwanda, but he sounded very much like a Rwandan. His message at the various events reflected the same principles on which Rwanda has rebuilt its society. He spoke of the necessity for reconciliation, forgiveness and healing. These are the very choices that Rwandans made and that have led the country to where it is now. He spoke of the imperative of inclusiveness and integration of everyone, especially the poor and other vulnerable groups in the national enterprise. Rwanda owes its progress and level of social cohesion to a conscious choice of accommodation of all at every level. Pope Francis pays special attention to the youth. In his particular mission, he sees them as the future of the church and of mankind. Rwanda is a youthful nation metaphorically and in fact, in which the youth have a crucial role as the drivers of its future. Both he and President Paul Kagame continually urge them and, more importantly, empower them to take up their historic responsibility. The Pope called on all leaders – civil and religious – to be humble and radiate truth and transform the lives of the people for whom they are responsible. This is the very definition of leadership in Rwanda. Even his manner is Rwandan, in the mode of President Kagame – modest and forthright, not afraid to say what he thinks about an issue. In this sense Pope Francis could be accused of Rwandanisation as indeed President John Magufuli of Tanzania has been – for doing things the way Rwandans have been doing and that have produced positive results. There is no need for either to go to confession for this because it is a “virtuous sin” (I suppose such exist). One thing remains, though, to complete his Rwandanness. The message of reconciliation, forgiveness and healing he has been preaching, must be applied to the church’s role in Rwanda’s history. I am sure he is humble enough to follow President Catherine Panza’s example and confess the church’s failures. Forgiveness would be prompt and total. jorwagatare@yahoo.co.uk

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Pope Francis, Magufuli and the sin of Rwandanisation