Dominic Muturi Njuguna

In December 2024, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, made a significant pastoral visit to Kenya that foreshadowed his imminent leadership of the Catholic Church worldwide. His visit was marked by deep reflections on faith, unity, and the foundational role of Jesus Christ and the Papacy in the life of the Church.

During his visit, Cardinal Prevost presided over the consecration and dedication of a new chapel at the Augustinian International House of Theology in Karen, Nairobi. This chapel, named Our Mother of Good Counsel, represented the culmination of 20 years of prayer, planning, and dedication by the Augustinian Friars in Kenya. The event drew clergy, believers, and visitors from Kenya and across the globe, celebrating the strong connections between local and universal Church communities.

In his homily, Cardinal Prevost underscored the importance of Jesus Christ as the “rock” upon which the Church is built, emphasizing the unity Catholics must maintain around the Holy Father, the successor of St. Peter. He highlighted that true faith and continuity of the Gospel rely on this unity. “Only when we are united as a church, only when our church is built upon that rock that Jesus left for all of us, that visible presence, so that the faith in the gospel, that faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, can continue through the ages,” he said during the chapel dedication on December 10, 2024.

Attendees of the dedication witnessed a historic moment as Cardinal Prevost cut the ribbon officially opening the chapel, dedicating it as a sanctuary of prayer and charity. His presence was particularly meaningful as many Kenyans were unaware that this American-born Augustinian Friar, familiar to them from previous visits, including one in 2011, was on the cusp of becoming the leader of the global Catholic Church.

Cardinal Prevost also reflected on the spiritual significance of the Church beyond its physical structure, emphasizing that the souls within are what truly matter. He stressed the role of Christ as the door to salvation and called on the faithful to open their hearts in charity. Highlighting the sacred role of priests, he reminded the congregation that their anointed hands become instruments through which the body of Christ is made present in the community.

The ceremony concluded with Cardinal Prevost blessing the offerings presented to the church and expressing his commitment to informing Pope Francis about the event upon his return to the Vatican, where he served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops at the time.

This visit not only reinforced Cardinal Prevost’s pastoral dedication but also served as a symbolic foundation for his forthcoming papacy as Pope Leo XIV, linking his deep commitment to unity, faith, and service with his new role as shepherd of the global Catholic community.