Vatican City, 28 November 2015 (VIS) –
Following his encounter with the leaders of Uganda, the Pope
travelled 38 kilometres by car from Entebbe to Munyonyo, the place
where King Mwanga II (1884-1903) chose to exterminate the Christians
of Uganda and where in May 1886 the first four martyrs were killed,
including St. Andrew Kaggwa, patron of Ugandan catechists. Every year
catechists gather in the area of the shrine of Munyonyo, now
entrusted to the Conventual Franciscans, where a new Church able to
hold a thousand people is being built. Among the catechists attending
the meeting with the Holy Father there was also a representation of
teachers from the Uganda National Council of Laity, as laypeople have
played, and continue to play, a very important role in the
evangelisation of the country.
Upon arrival, the Pope was received by
the superior of the Franciscans and by Archbishiop Cyprian Kizito
Lwanga of Kampala, who accompanied him to the churchyard where he
planted and watered a tree, along with the archbishop and leaders of
the Orthodox and Protestant confessions to underline the ecumenical
aspect of the Ugandan martyrs. Indeed, dozens of Anglicans were
killed during the reign of King Mwanga II, alongside twenty-two of
his servants, pages and functionaries who were converted to
Catholicism by the missionaries of Africa.
After blessing the new statue of St.
Andrew Kaggwa, located in the place of his martyrdom, the Pope
addressed the catechists, first thanking them for their sacrifices in
fulfilling their mission. “You teach what Jesus taught, you
instruct adults and help parents to raise their children in the
faith, and you bring the joy and hope of eternal life to all”, he
said. “Thank you for your dedication, your example, your closeness
to God’s people in their daily lives, and all the many ways you
plant and nurture the seeds of faith throughout this vast land.
Thank you especially for teaching our children and young people how
to pray”.
“I know that your work, although
rewarding, is not easy. So I encourage you to persevere, and I ask
your bishops and priests to support you with a doctrinal, spiritual
and pastoral formation capable of making you ever more effective in
your outreach. Even when the task seems too much, the resources too
few, the obstacles too great, it should never be forgotten that yours
is a holy work. The Holy Spirit is present wherever the name of
Christ is proclaimed. He is in our midst whenever we lift up our
hearts and minds to God in prayer. He will give you the light and
strength you need! The message you bring will take root all the more
firmly in people’s hearts if you are not only a teacher but also a
witness. Your example should speak to everyone of the beauty of
prayer, the power of mercy and forgiveness, the joy of sharing in the
Eucharist with all our brothers and sisters”.
“The Christian community in Uganda
grew strong through the witness of the martyrs”, he continued.
“They testified to the truth which sets men free; they were willing
to shed their blood to be faithful to what they knew was good and
beautiful and true. We stand here today in Munyonyo at the place
where King Mwanga determined to wipe out the followers of Christ. He
failed in this, just as King Herod failed to kill Jesus. The light
shone in the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it. After
seeing the fearless testimony of Saint Andrew Kaggwa and his
companions, Christians in Uganda became even more convinced of
Christ’s promises”.
“May Saint Andrew, your patron, and
all the Ugandan catechist martyrs, obtain for you the grace to be
wise teachers, men and women whose every word is filled with grace,
convincing witnesses to the splendour of God’s truth and the joy of
the Gospel”, the Pontiff concluded. “Go forth without fear to
every town and village in this country, to spread the good seed of
God’s word, and trust in his promise that you will come back
rejoicing, with sheaves full from the harvest. Omukama Abawe Omukisa!
God bless you!”.
Yesterday evening in the nunciature of
Kampala Pope Francis received the president of South Sudan, Salva
Kiir. The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico
Lombardi, S.J., underlined that the audience represented a “special
gesture” demonstrating the attention with which the Pope follows
the troubled events in this country, the youngest in Africa
(independent since July 2011), and whose founders included the
Catholic bishop Cesare Mazzolari, who died shortly after its birth.
South Sudan has not yet known peace, although the ideals that
inspired its independence included peacemaking between ethnic groups
and with Sudan.
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