In a deeply personal and poignant message, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has paid tribute to the late Pope Francis, who passed away earlier today, calling him “a proper ‘sinner’s’ Pope” and remembering him as a beacon of compassion for those on the margins of the Church’s traditional embrace.
For Sifuna, the connection was more than political or philosophical it was personal. By acknowledging the reality of Kenyan families like his own, Pope Francis offered not judgment, but grace. That, the senator seemed to suggest, was the kind of leadership that made Francis so beloved: a man who chose mercy over rules, and compassion over condemnation.
Taking to social media shortly after the Vatican confirmed the Pope’s death, Sifuna wrote:
“Pope Francis is easily my favorite. A proper ‘sinner’s’ Pope. See, according to Catholic doctrine, marriages like mine under Luhyia customary law are considered ‘unholy’ unions. Sometimes they won’t even baptise your kids till you ‘regularize’. This is the Pope who said it was OK for priests to extend blessings to sinners like me. May he Rest in Peace.”
The senator’s message struck a chord with many people who have felt the tension between cultural traditions and Catholic expectations. His candid words reflect not just personal grief, but a wider appreciation for a papacy marked by humility, inclusion, and bold reforms.
Pope Francis, known for his softer stance on matters such as divorce, same-sex unions, and non-traditional families, repeatedly emphasized the need for the Church to be a home for all not just the perfect. In 2023, he made headlines for permitting Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples and other “irregular” unions, stating that blessings are for everyone, not just the sinless.