By: Augustine Muema
Nairobi, Kenya
Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special Franciscan Jubilee Year, running from 10 January 2026 to 10 January 2027, to mark eight centuries since the death of St. Francis of Assisi. For Franciscans worldwide, the Jubilee has been an invitation to rediscover the Franciscan charism and ask how St. Francis’s message can speak to today’s realities.
In Kenya, the Franciscan family answered that call, gathering from 26 to 28 August 2026 for a landmark three-day Franciscan Jubilee Symposium at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
The Symposium opened with a liturgical celebration and Holy Mass led by Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of the Archdiocese of Kisumu, who emphasised emulating St. Francis in renewing both the Church and the world. Archbishop Phillip Anyolo celebrated Mass on the second day, and Auxiliary Bishop Obed Karobia led the closing ceremony on the third.
Throughout the three days, Franciscans, scholars and the wider community presented and discussed academic papers on themes including ecumenism and interreligious dialogue; sustainable finance viewed through the lens of Laudato Si’; ecological stewardship and the shift from “domination” to “fraternity” toward our common home; refugee accompaniment; the role of traditional women as grassroots peacemakers; a Kenyan case study applying “See, Act and Judge” to drought and water scarcity; discipleship in the Gospel of Mark; and youth formation in the digital age, including the ethical use of AI. A session on ecology and care for creation highlighted the Mother Earth Network and included a practical demonstration of proper tree-planting technique. The Capuchin TV team also shared their nine-year journey broadcasting the Franciscan message globally.
Beyond the academic sessions, the Symposium featured book launches, musical performances including by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate and cultural expressions from various Franciscan groups, fostering fraternity and celebration.
Bishops took part in tree-growing as a sign of continued commitment to caring for our common home, and the gathering saw the launch of the Season of Creation under the theme “Living Water,” led by the Laudato Si’ Movement Africa and warmly embraced by the Franciscans present.
