In actions and words on his
first tour of the world's poorest continent, Pope Francis has sent a message to
African leaders that they could do with less pomp and a bit more humility.
In a region where presidents
speed past slums in cavalcades of luxury vehicles and the public complain about
corruption in high office, the pope was cheered as he drove in a small Honda
and told national leaders to act with integrity.
Kenya's prolific Twitter
users were quick to notice the contrast. "Thieving politicians arrive in
their SUVs and Mercs to listen to @Pontifex who will arrive in a Honda.
Shameless 'leaders'," wrote @Kunj_Shah.
Francis, who has spurned many
of the institutional perks of the Vatican, shunned the armoured cars with
tinted glass driven by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his entourage.
Nor did he follow the example
of visitors like US President Barack Obama, who turned up in Nairobi in July
for an official visit with an army of security personnel and a bullet-proof
limousine, dubbed "the Beast".
Instead, the pope waved to
rapturous crowds from his white popemobile with open sides despite pouring rain
and was ferried around Nairobi in the Honda that local media said cost a modest
$14 700.
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