Former Vice President Moody Awori kisses Pope's ring

Holding Pope Francis's right hand, the former Vice President Moody Awori bent and kissed the silver fisherman's ring on the pontiff's finger.

This, he did at State House as President Uhuru Kenyatta who politically is of the same rank with the Pope- head of Vatican- watched closely.

Awori, a devout Catholic, was among hundreds of dignitaries invited to State House on Wednesday evening when the Pope arrived in the country.

Dressed in a white cassock and a coordinating mozzetta (short cape symbolizing his authority), Pope Francis used his left hand to support the right as he responded to Awori's greeting with a broad smile.

The former VP joined the list of prominent personalities who have kissed the Fisherman's Ring as a symbol of greeting.

On Christmas Day in 1869, Theodore Roosevelt kissed Pope Pius IX's ring, when his family met him while they were on a trip in Europe.

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On Wednesday, Awori became the first prominent personality in Kenya to kiss the Pope's ring, a ring that was presented to him during his inauguration mass in March 2013 as part of his official regalia.

Unlike the previous Popes who chose pure gold rings, the current head of the Catholic Church went for a silver one that was designed decades ago. This, he did out of the three rings that were presented to him.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi was quoted in a section of the media, saying the gold plated silver ring was modelled on one designed for Pope Paul VI by Italian sculptor Enrico Manfrini, who died in 2004.