Museveni mourns the Pope
Apr 04, 2005
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni and his wife Janet were last evening among thousands of mourners at the requiem mass for Pope John Paul II at Rubaga Cathedral.
BY J. Maseruka
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni and his wife Janet were last evening among thousands of mourners at the requiem mass for Pope John Paul II at Rubaga Cathedral.
Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre was the main celebrant. Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala left for Entebbe Airport as the mass started. He was on his way to the Vatican for the Pope’s funeral.
Museveni described the Pope as “a freedom fighter, a great bridge builder and a man who had the humility and wisdom to apologise for the mistakes committed by the Church.â€
Museveni drew laughter when he said months after the Pope was appointed in 1978, he started the guerrilla war that brought him to power in 1986.
“I stand here as a freedom fighter to salute Pope John Paul II. He was the first Pope to visit synagogues and mosques in his quest for peace. The Pope, like the NRM, has been broadbased,†Museveni said.
Pierre said, “We had a Pope who devoted all his life to prayer and who never escaped from reality.†He said in his maiden speech, Pope John Paul II urged nations to open up to Christ.
Pierre said amid loud clapping, “Let us open our doors and hearts to Christ in our homes, at work and in our Parliament.â€
Kabaka Ronald Mutebi said he had lost “a great adviser; a great friend of Ugandans.†He hailed his “long papacy of dignity.â€
Masaka Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa, who spoke on behalf of the Ugandan bishops, said the Pope campaigned for debt cancellation for poor countries and the end of suffering in the war-torn northern Uganda.
The Catholic Church received condolences from the Forum for Democratic Change signed by retired Col. Kizza Besigye, which drew thunderous applause. Other messages came from the Democratic Party, Kampala City Council and the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council.
Five bishops and over 60 priests assisted Pierre. Other dignitaries included VP Gilbert Bukenya and his wife, ministers, MPs, ambassadors, Mengo officials and representatives from other faiths.
Many mourners wept and carried portraits of the Pope. The cathedral was packed with the majority remaining outside throughout the three-hour service broadcast live on some FM radios.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni and his wife Janet were last evening among thousands of mourners at the requiem mass for Pope John Paul II at Rubaga Cathedral.
Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre was the main celebrant. Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala left for Entebbe Airport as the mass started. He was on his way to the Vatican for the Pope’s funeral.
Museveni described the Pope as “a freedom fighter, a great bridge builder and a man who had the humility and wisdom to apologise for the mistakes committed by the Church.â€
Museveni drew laughter when he said months after the Pope was appointed in 1978, he started the guerrilla war that brought him to power in 1986.
“I stand here as a freedom fighter to salute Pope John Paul II. He was the first Pope to visit synagogues and mosques in his quest for peace. The Pope, like the NRM, has been broadbased,†Museveni said.
Pierre said, “We had a Pope who devoted all his life to prayer and who never escaped from reality.†He said in his maiden speech, Pope John Paul II urged nations to open up to Christ.
Pierre said amid loud clapping, “Let us open our doors and hearts to Christ in our homes, at work and in our Parliament.â€
Kabaka Ronald Mutebi said he had lost “a great adviser; a great friend of Ugandans.†He hailed his “long papacy of dignity.â€
Masaka Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa, who spoke on behalf of the Ugandan bishops, said the Pope campaigned for debt cancellation for poor countries and the end of suffering in the war-torn northern Uganda.
The Catholic Church received condolences from the Forum for Democratic Change signed by retired Col. Kizza Besigye, which drew thunderous applause. Other messages came from the Democratic Party, Kampala City Council and the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council.
Five bishops and over 60 priests assisted Pierre. Other dignitaries included VP Gilbert Bukenya and his wife, ministers, MPs, ambassadors, Mengo officials and representatives from other faiths.
Many mourners wept and carried portraits of the Pope. The cathedral was packed with the majority remaining outside throughout the three-hour service broadcast live on some FM radios.