Vatican City, 28 November 2015 (VIS) –
Yesterday afternoon Pope Francis arrived in Uganda, the second leg of
his apostolic trip in Africa. He was awaited at at the airport by
President Yoweri Kaguta Museweni, representatives of the religious
and civil authorities, and a group of dancers who performed a
traditional dance in his honour. From the airport the Pope
transferred to the State House in Entebbe, where he privately greeted
the family of the president, who was also Head of State during St.
John Paul II's visit to the country. He then met with the authorities
and the diplomatic corps of Uganda.
In his address in the Conference Hall,
Francis emphasised that his visit was intended to commemorate the
fiftieth anniversary of the canonisation of the martyrs of Uganda by
his predecessor Pope Paul VI, but at the same time he hoped it would
also be “a sign of friendship, esteem and encouragement for all the
people of this great nation”.
“The Martyrs, both Catholic and
Anglican, are true national heroes. They bear witness to the guiding
principles expressed in Uganda’s motto – For God and My Country.
They remind us of the importance that faith, moral rectitude and
commitment to the common good have played, and continue to play, in
the cultural, economic and political life of this country. They also
remind us that, despite our different beliefs and convictions, all of
us are called to seek the truth, to work for justice and
reconciliation, and to respect, protect and help one another as
members of our one human family. These high ideals are particularly
demanded of men and women like yourselves, who are charged with
ensuring good and transparent governance, integral human development,
a broad participation in national life, as well as a wise and just
distribution of the goods which the Creator has so richly bestowed
upon these lands”.
“My visit is also meant to draw
attention to Africa as a whole, its promise, its hopes, its struggles
and its achievements”, he continued. “The world looks to Africa
as the continent of hope. Uganda has indeed been blessed by God with
abundant natural resources, which you are challenged to administer as
responsible stewards. But above all, the nation has been blessed in
its people: its strong families, its young and its elderly... the
living memory of every people”.
Francis praised Uganda's “outstanding
concern” for refugees, which has enabled them “to rebuild their
lives in security and to sense the dignity which comes from earning
one’s livelihood through honest labour. Our world, caught up in
wars, violence, and various forms of injustice, is witnessing an
unprecedented movement of peoples. How we deal with them is a test of
our humanity, our respect for human dignity, and above all our
solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need”.
“I hope to encourage the many quiet
efforts being made to care for the poor, the sick and those in any
kind of trouble. It is in these small signs that we see the true soul
of a people. In so many ways, our world is growing closer; yet at the
same time we see with concern the globalisation of a 'throwaway
culture' which blinds us to spiritual values, hardens our hearts
before the needs of the poor, and robs our young of hope”.
He concluded, “As I look forward to
meeting you and spending this time with you, I pray that you, Mr.
President, and all the beloved Ugandan people, will always prove
worthy of the values which have shaped the soul of your nation. Upon
all of you I invoke the Lord’s richest blessings. Mungu
awabariki!”.
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