BISHOPS OF UGANDA WELCOMED AT CASTELGANDOLFO

VATICAN CITY, SEP 20, 2003 (VIS) - Today at Castelgandolfo, the Pope welcomed the bishops of Uganda who have been in Rome since September 10 on their quinquennial "ad limina" visit. "The last time the Ugandan Bishops were here as a body," he remarked, "there was but one ecclesiastical province in your country; now there are four metropolitan sees counting a total of 19 dioceses. This is a very positive sign of the work being done for Christ, the building up of His Church in your country."

The Pope then noted that "sadly, parts of your country are currently embroiled in situations of armed conflict and anarchy. In the north especially, the bane of warfare is bringing untold misery, suffering and death, striking out even at the Church and targeting her ministers and her children. In the west and the northeast too, episodes of violence and hostility afflict the land, draining the life and energies of your people. Assuring you and your people of my spiritual closeness in these dire circumstances, I join you in condemning every act of bloodshed and destruction."

"As Bishops," John Paul II continued, "you have a serious duty to address issues of particular importance for the social, economic, political and cultural life of your country, to make the Church ever more effectively present in those areas. Working out the implications of the Gospel for Christian life in the world and applying it to new situations is crucial to your ecclesial leadership."

He encouraged their work in health care, education, and development, saying "these serve to show clearly the Church's commitment to the integral well-being of her sons and daughters and of all Ugandans regardless of religious creed. Worthy of particular mention are the various HIV/AIDS initiatives that, in complete harmony with the Church's teaching, seek to assist those affected by this disease and to keep the public duly informed about it."

The Pope underscored that "if the Church is to assume her proper place in Ugandan society, suitable formation of the laity must be a priority in your mission as preachers and teachers," particularly their involvement "in the life of the parish and diocese, in pastoral and administrative structures. ... Especially important in this same context are efforts aimed at overcoming tribal conflicts and ethnic tensions; for such rivalries have no place in the Church of Christ and serve only to weaken the overall fabric of society."

The Holy Father encouraged "a renewal of the Christian community and of society that passes by way of the family," because a strong "communion of persons in the family is the great antidote to the self-indulgence and sense of isolation so prevalent today."

He added that "in seeking to meet the challenges of the future, attention to young people remains of paramount importance. ... A strong commitment to Catholic schools is a particularly effective way of ensuring the proper formation of Ugandan youth. ... It is important also to continue to seek ways to bring sound moral and religious teaching to the public schools as well, and to promote in public opinion a consensus regarding the importance of such training."

"We cannot fail," said Pope John Paul, "to give thanks for the vocations with which you are blessed." He commented on the work done by priests, the bishops' "closest co-workers. ... With regard to the loneliness that can sometimes accompany the pastoral ministry, your priests should be encouraged, as much as the local situation permits, to live in common and direct their efforts entirely towards the sacred ministry." He also had praise for the communities of men and women religious in Uganda, as well as the numerous catechists.

"Walk always," the Holy Father concluded, "with those entrusted to your pastoral care, showing them a father's love, especially those suffering the scourge of violence, the pain of AIDS, the affliction of any other of a host of situations bringing hardship and difficulty."

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