I am willing to visit Uganda – Pope

ope Francis has expressed willingness to come to Uganda to officiate at the 5Oth anniversary of the canonisation of Uganda Catholic Martyrs at Namugongo next year.

This follows a Monday meeting with President Museveni who is on a four-day working trip to Italy at the Pope’s office at the Papal building in the Caticano.
Shortly after the meeting, the President tweeted “I and Pope Francis held a one-to-one meeting that lasted one and a half hours. I later introduced the First Lady my wife.”

According to a statement by the President’s deputy press secretary, Ms Linda Nabusayi, read: “The Pope has expressed willingness to visit Uganda and looking forward to the trip. The Pope and President Yoweri Museveni held a meeting at his office at the Papal Building in the Caticano.”

The Pope, according to the statement, said he was willing and looking forward to the trip. “He said Uganda Martyrs are considered very important in the Catholic Church,” read the statement in part.
However, the Vatican Curia, which manages the Pope’s schedule, is yet to officially confirm the trip to Uganda.

Mr Museveni travelled with a government delegation, including ministers; Adolf Mwesige Local Government, the Chief Whip, Ms Kasule Lumumba, and minister of State for Foreign Affairs Okello Oryem.

President Museveni first inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Papal guards shortly after arriving in the Vatican.
The Pope gave gifts to his visitors, including rosaries and his book on Faith and Social development.

He also gave a St Martin Medal named after an important missionary in the Catholic Church to the President.

Mr Museveni in return gave the Pope a copy of his book Sowing the Mustard Seed and a portrait of the Crested Crane. Later, the President held talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Vatican. Cardinal Parolin is also the head of government for the Vatican State.

On Sunday, President Museveni donated $10,000 (Shs26m) to projects run by the Uganda Catholic Martyrs’ Church, Rome after touring church complex, which includes, a church building, recreation facilities and an office.

PREPARATIONS AHEAD OF EXPECTED VISIT

A fundraising drive expected to collect millions of shillings needed to redevelop the Namugongo Uganda Martyrs Shrine is underway. The Pope is expected to visit the shrines if he makes the trip to Uganda.

The Catholic Church in Uganda formerly invited him here according to the Archbishop of Kampala Diocese Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

Early this year, the much awaited visit by the Pope was postponed with the Pontiff confirming he is unable to make the trip.

The celebrations of the 50 years of the Canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs, which the Pope had been officially invited to preside over on October 18, were also postponed.

The last Pope to visit Uganda was John Paul II, in March 1993. His predecessor, Pope Paul VI, had visited Uganda in August 1969.

The Monitor 

UM– USEKE.RW