Uganda told to prepare for pope's visit spiritually

By Henry Sekanjako & Cyprian Musoke

The Papal Nuncio to Uganda, Archbishop Michael Blume, has asked the Catholic Church in Uganda to spiritually prepare for the visitation of the Holy Father Pope Francis who is expected in the country this year.

In his Ash Wednesday sermon at the Parliamentary building in Kampala, the Papal Nuncio confirmed that Pope Francis will be visiting Uganda soon adding that the month and date for his visitation will be communicated in due course.

“We should prepare ourselves spiritually for this visit. Whenever it will be, we hope it is sooner than later. Surely in the coming month when we receive the date and time, there will be more organizational aspects that will have to be taken care of about his visit,” Papal Nuncio Blume told MPs.

He noted that besides the formal communication by the Pope on his intended Visit to Uganda, no more detailed information has been provided yet.

“I am sure you have all heard about the intention of the Holy Father’s visit to Uganda, unfortunately I don’t have anything new to tell you about the topic. I have the same information as you have, we are still waiting for more
definite news,” he explained.

Aboard the papal plane to Rome later last month, Pope Francis told journalists that he will make his visit to Africa later this year with stops in Uganda and the restive Central African Republic.

Responding to the Papal Nuncio’s remarks about the Pope’s visit to Uganda, government’s representative at the special Ash Wednesday prayers at Parliament, second deputy Prime Minister Henry Kajura said government was excited about the Pope’s pending visit to Uganda.

“Everybody is excited about the coming of the Holy Father; however, what we have not captured is when he will be coming, but we  all look forward to his visitation,” said Kajura.

President Yoweri Museveni visited the Vatican in November last year with the First Lady Janet Museveni and a host of other senior government officials on a four-day official trip.

During the trip, the President entreated Pope Francis to visit the land of Uganda Martyrs and in response, the Pope expressed willingness to visit Uganda.

The Catholic Church also invited the Pope last year to preside over the canonization of Uganda Martyrs, who were burnt on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga November 1885 and January 1887.

Should the Pope visit Uganda as he indicated, this will be his first trip to Africa since he was elected Pope in March 2013. He succeeded Pope Benedict XVI who resigned in February 2013, citing a “lack of strength of mind and body” due to his advanced age.

Pope Benedict XVI had earlier ascended to the throne after the death of Pope John Paul II in April 2005.

Pope John Pail II visited Uganda on February 7, 1993 and toured Gulu, Karamoja, Kasese and Namugongo Martyrs shrine.

Meanwhile delivering the Pope’s lent message to the catholic community in Uganda, the Papal Nuncio Blume said Christians needed to use the lent season to make their hearts firm.

“Lent is a time of renewal for the whole church, for each communities and every believer. Above all it is a ‘time of grace’. God doesn’t ask us of anything that he himself has not first given us,” read the pope’s message.