Speaker Among recalls her encounters with Pope Francis
“Whenever we would go there, he knew me by name and would call me and say 'my daughter you are here'. He would start laughing."
The Speaker of Uganda's Parliament, Anita Among met the Pope eight times during which she received blessings from him. (Courtesy photos)
By Charles Etukuri
Journalists @New Vision
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The Speaker of Uganda's Parliament, Anita Among, has recalled her encounters with Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
She described the late pontiff as "a devoted spiritual shepherd, committed to his faith and to the mission of uniting the Church throughout the world".
"Pope Francis was passionate about social justice and world peace. He boldly advocated for religious tolerance and forgiveness among the faithful in the Universal Church," said Among.
Still looking 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 the leader of the world's Catholics, whose papacy has lasted 12 years, with world leaders among those that have issued their condolences.
'Pope loved Uganda'
Among met the Pope eight times during which she received blessings from him.
“The pope was such an amazing person. Whenever we would go there, we would have a private meeting where he would tell us how much we should support and love the church.
"He encouraged us to talk to the Christians out there and encourage them to have developmental activities that would help them grow in the faith and also grow the church," said the Speaker.
She said Francis loved and preached unity and peace.
"No wonder on Easter Sunday, his last message to the world was about peace and how we should embrace peace."
Among further fondly reminisced about her encounters with the pope.
“Whenever we would go there, he knew me by name and would call me and say 'my daughter you are here'. He would start laughing.
"He said he loved Uganda and his love for Uganda was out of the Uganda martyrs. And he would even say you have a very brilliant leader, President Yoweri Museveni. I have been to Uganda and we love Uganda and we are going to have a canonization of the martyrs' and that is one reason that he even allowed the canonization of the martyrs to be hosted in the Vatican last year.”
In 2015, Francis became the third pope to visit Uganda, two years into his papacy. He came to Uganda as a pilgrim to venerate the holy martyrs.
Among said she was blessed with twins from the prayers and engagements with the pope.
His predecessors, Pope John Paul II and Pope Paul VI, visited Uganda in 1993 and 1964, respectively.
'I have my own luck'
Speaker Among said four of her eight meetings with Pope Francis were private audiences.
"I started meeting the Pope when I was a Member of Parliament in the tenth Parliament. When I would go to meet him, he would hold my hand and say we pray. When he prays for you, you feel light in your body. You feel there is something cold and that is the Pope who has gone to be with the Lord.”
So how was she able to meet the Pope those many times?
“Some people have tried but I have my own luck and blessing and I am happy that he has passed on when he has given me all the blessing.
"That is why you find all these people who fight me scattering around because I have that blessing. I am covered by the blood of Jesus.”
Among said she was blessed with twins from the prayers and engagements with the pope.
“As we celebrate Uganda martyrs in June, we shall celebrate one more martyr, the Pope, who has impacted on communities and our lives as Christians. All that we can do is to pray for his soul to rest in perfect peace.”
The Speaker urged the leaders across the country to live in unity, humility and peace.