Today Pope Francis gave a speech in Nairobi, Kenya on his first trip to Africa. He thanked Kenya for a kind welcome and talked of the terrorism the country has face and continues to face. He said “the enemies of peace must be curbed by all.”

He called for interreligious dialogue to end the violence in Kenya between the Muslims and the Christians.

“To be honest, this relationship is challenging; it makes demands of us. Yet ecumenical and interreligious dialogue is not a luxury. It is not something extra or optional, but essential, something which our world, wounded by conflict and division, increasingly needs,” Pope Francis said.

Earlier last month Africa Times reporter Robert Wanjala wrote of initiatives in Kenya focusing on bringing the Christian and Muslim populations together to fight extremism in the country. Leaders from both faith communities stood in solidarity to show their support and determination to end violence.

During the events today, two faith leaders, Archbishop Wabukala, an Anglican Bishop and Prof Abdulghafur El-Busaidy, the national chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims spoke. Wabukala encouraged Christians around Africa to influence society in a positive and constructive way. El-Busaidy said “As religious leaders, we have a duty to promote justice, rightfulness, love, truthfulness, faithfulness and hopefulness.”

It seems that with the visit by the Pope, dialogue is continuing and the idea is spreading that communities should come together to better themselves rather than be split apart by the actions of extremists.