Pope Francis eulogised for baptising Uganda 'Land of the Martyrs'

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Catholic faithful in Gulu Archdiocese have eulogised Pope Francis for baptising Uganda the “Land of the Martyrs who witnessed their faith together for Jesus” during his 2015 visit.

The Argentine pontiff died Monday at the age of 88.

Emeritus Archbishop Dr John Baptist Odama of Gulu Archdiocese paid tribute to the deceased leader of the world's Catholics.

“Pope Francis should be remembered for baptising Uganda, the land of the Martyrs from Namugongo during his maiden visit," he said on Monday hours after the Vatican announced Francis's death.

Despite being frail, the pontiff's final public appearance was on Easter Sunday at St Peter's Square.

This was nearly a month after he was discharged from the hospital, where he had been treated for pneumonia since February 14.

Tributes have continued to flow for Francis, whose papacy has lasted 12 years, with world leaders among those that have issued their condolences.

'Heavy assignment'

In Uganda, Emeritus Archbishop Odama recalled the time the Pope was in Uganda a decade ago.

“He [pope] stressed that the message of the martyrs was very clear to all Ugandans: 'Stand for Jesus confessing your faith together'."

At the time of his visit, Odama was serving as the chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference.

Pope Francis led Holy Mass at Namugongo Martyrs Basilica before touring the Church of Uganda Martyrs Shrine.

Odama said he will also be remembered for demonstrating his deep love for mother nature as a climate change crusader.

He also introduced the concept of synodal church to encourage Christians to journey together towards Heaven, he added.

“Pope Francis leaves the Church with a heavy assignment of unifying the world, as he always wanted Christians to journey together to Heaven."

Odama said Christians should find comfort in the Easter resurrection message of Jesus Christ, "which reassures us that Pope Francis also joined Christ in the Easter resurrection".

He prayed for divine inspiration for the cardinals to elect a new Pope, as God grants the soul of Pope Francis repose.

Lino Owor Ogora, the director of Foundation for Justice and Development Initiative, a charity organisation in Gulu Archdiocese, said he will remember Pope Francis for his simplicity as a high-profile servant of God.

'Nature is a magnificent book'

John Bosco Aludi is the Director of CARITAS, the development arm of the Catholic Church in Uganda in Gulu.

He remembers Pope Francis for authoring a book known as the Encyclical Letter or Laudato Si, in which he detailed the need for the protection of the environment.

In the book, the pontiff poured out his heart for Mother Earth and environmental protection – the Care of Creation.

Francis said that the earth is essential in the protection of human dignity and promoting integral development.

"I urge you in the name of God to defend Mother Earth. Nature is a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness.

"We require a new universal solidarity.”

Aludi accompanied the current Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese, Rt Rev. Father Rapheal Wokorach P’Mony, to the Vatican to receive the Pallium from Pope Francis.

He recalled their moments with their high-profile host.

“When Archbishop Raphael mentioned to the Pope that he had come from Uganda, the Pontiff vividly proclaimed again that “Uganda is the Land of the Martyrs".

Aludi now believes that the framers of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) borrowed some concepts from the papal letter during the development of the SDGs.



Monsignor Martin Agwee, the Vicar General of Gulu Archdiocese, said Pope Francis will be remembered for his global peace missions.

He said he was so honoured to have been a part of the central organising committee for the Pope's visit 10 years ago.

"He encouraged every Christian to live the Gospel values with joy and welcoming back the sinners in compassion.

"He had actually declared 2025 as the Holy Year in which we are all called to embrace holiness. The theme of his message has always been mercy," added Agwee.