This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
On September 11, 2019, Pope Francis sent a message of best wishes and blessings to President Uhuru Kenyatta and the People of Kenya as he overflew the country on his way back to Rome.
The Pope's message was delivered by radio and recorded by Kenya's Air Traffic Control (ATC) as he concluded his three-nation visit of Mozambique, Madagascar, and Mauritius.
"President Uhuru Kenyatta, I offer my cordial best wishes to you and the People of Kenya as I return to Rome after my Apostolic visit in Mozambique, Madagascar, and Mauritius," Pope Francis said in his message.
"Upon all of you, I invoke blessings of peace and well being," the Pope added.
During his visit to sub-Saharan Africa, Pope Francis spent five days in Mozambique, two days in Madagascar, and completed his tour in Mauritius.
This was not Pope Francis' first visit to Kenya, as he had previously visited the country in November 2015, making him the second pontiff to visit Kenya after Pope John Paul II, who visited the country three times.