As it happened: Day 2 of Pope in Uganda

Nov 28, 2015

Relive a fully packed day when visiting Pope Francis wraps up a tight schedule in Uganda.



Presented by Joseph Kizza

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7.40pm    Done and dusted!


And with that I come to the end of this commentary.

I hope the Pope's visit has had an impact on you, together with the people in your life. It has, for me. The Holy Father departs for Central African Republic (CAR) tomorrow (Sunday) morning, from where he will wrap up his landmark three-nation African trip.

Uganda, we are a blessed country and just like the Pope has repeatedly urged Ugandans to do, let us pray for him, for our beloved country, for peace and prosperity, and most importantly, for our dear Martyrs.

I wish you all well, good people.

Good night!
 

 

 

7.30pm    Prayer . . .


“Prayer means humiliation – humiliation to always go to your confessor to confess your sins. You can’t work with one leg and work with another. You have to work with both of them at the same time. You can’t have a double life. If you are a sinner, ask for forgiveness,” urges Pope Francis, whose next destination is Central Africa.

“Don’t close into your closet this important treasure of memory. Prayer always begins with recognizing oneself as a sinner.

“I ask you to pray for me. Thank you for listening to me,” concludes the pontiff, before calling on everyone to rise and recite The Grace, after which blesses everyone.

 

 

 

7.25pm    Fidelity . . .


The Pope tells his attentive audience inside Lubaga Cathedral: “Martyrdom means faithfulness. You are part of the future glory – and that is the mandate the Church gives you: to be a witness.

“To be a witness is fidelity. Fidelity to memory, fidelity to your own convocation, fidelity to your apostolic zeal. Fidelity means following the way of holiness. Fidelity means what they did in the past.

“There are dioceses in this country with many clergy and there are others that have few. Fidelity means persevering in one’s convocation.”

As his audience listens on, the pontiff who departs from Uganda Sunday morning says: “The blood of martyrs has flown on the ground of this great country. The earth of Uganda must always have this blood so that there can be new witnesses of the messengers of Christ. If that’s not done, you can lose this great treasure that you have,” he says, warning that the risk is that Africa, as a whole, would become a museum – and at the same time giving way for the devil to strike.

 

 

 

7.13pm    Memory . . .


“In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses says “do not forget” and he says it very many times. “Don’t forget what God did for his people”, Moses says,” Pope Francis starts by focusing on the principle of memory.

“Ask for the grace never to forget but to keep alive the memory. As I said to the young people today, through the veins of the young flows the seed of the Uganda martyrs.”

“Please don’t lose the memory of this seed – so that you can nourish it and let it grow. The greatest enemy of memory is forgetfulness, but it is not the most dangerous. The most dangerous enemy of memory is becoming too comfortable.”

 

 

 

 

 7.10pm    'Three things'


Bishop Kaggwa invites Pope Francis to address his audience . . .
 

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The Pontiff, who starts off by apologising for "speaking in my mother tongue", says he would like to "say three things this evening" . . .

 

 

 

 6.55pm    'Privileged to host you'


Bishop John Baptist Kaggwa welcomes the Pope, saying that the religious men and women of this country "feel blessed and privileged to host you as they come to the close of the year".

Kaggwa says that "these very men and women are committed to the work of evangelization".
 

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"We thank you for conducting the Synod on the Family, as well as for the recent declaration of the Year of God's Mercy," he adds.

"As religious and priests, we are faced with many challenges and we pray that you pray for us to perservere," adds the bishop from the Diocese of Masaka.

 

 

 

 The Holy Father is now at Lubaga Cathedral


Pope Francis, after meeting Ugandan bishops at the Archbishop's residence, has now arrived at Lubaga Cathedral. Here, he is meeting with priests, men and women religious and seminarians.
 

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 Pope meets with bishops

 
Pope Francis is meeting Uganda bishops at the Archbishop's residence.  Meanwhile, prayers are being conducted at Lubaga Cathedral where the Pope will meet with priests, men and women religious and seminarians, concluding a long day's program.
 

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 5.20pm    28 years without moving off the bed


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The Bakateyamba Charitable Home houses some 102 people, including 57 females and 45 males. Of these, there are 65 Catholics, 34 Protestants and 3 Muslims. The eldest resident is 107 years old while the youngest is seven, the Pope is told.

But hundreds more walk in and out of the Home every other day.

We learn that the inhabitants are from Uganda, Kenyam Tanzania, DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

Moments after being presented a gift in form of an artifcat (sculptor) made by a disabled resident of the Home, Pope Francis is led into one of the room to visit some of the residents who are too weak to move and others who have been bedridden for as many as 28 years.


Next up after Nalukolongo, the Pope meets with Uganda bishops

 

 

 

 5.05pm    'Don't forget the poor'


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The Pope, who has made humility and help for the impoverished a hallmark of his tenure, makes an emphatic call: "I appeal to all parishes in Uganda and in Africa not to forget the poor. the Lord tells us that in no uncertain terms that that's how He will judge us."

He also underlines that in many places, "selfishness and indifference is spreading". As Christians, we can't simply stand by, he urges.

"Our parishes must not close their doors to the cries of the poor, the suffering. People count more than things. Who we are is more important than what we possess," says the pontiff who departs from Uganda early Sunday, destined for Central African Republic (CAR) -- his final leg of a three-country African trip.

 

 

 

 5.00pm    'Jesus is present here'


In early times, slave children were ransomed here. Jesus is present here -- wherever there are those who suffer," says the pontiff.

"I also greet all representatives of the apostolic groups. I greet the residents of this home and other such homes. Here, you can find love and peace."

 

 

 Pope at Bakateyamba Home in Nalukolongo

 
"Thank you everyone. I had always wanted come to this Charitable Home here in Nalukolongo," says Pope Francis who has been accompanied by Kampala Archbishop Dr. Cyrpian Kizito Lwanga.


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4.38pm    'Don't forget to pray for me'


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Concluding his address, the Pope blesses his audience, finishing off with one request of them.

"Pray for me. I mean it. Don't forget. Good life."


[Thunderous cheers ensue]

 

 

 

4.20pm    'Is there a magic formula?'


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The Pope says further: "Jesus can change your life."

"He can take down and tear down all the walls that stand before you. Jesus can transform yours into a life of service to others. You might ask me: 'Is there a magic formula?'. If you want Jesus to transform your life, ask him to change it -- through prayer.

The Holy Father then asks the crowd: "Do you all pray?" "Yes!" is the mighty response he gets from an energetic audience.

"Sure?" "Yes!"

"Never stop praying. Prayer is the strongest aspect in the soul of a youth."

 

 

4.20pm    'Through death there is life'


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"One can  always find a solution. In order for one to live, one has to die, dying as Charles Lwanga (Uganda martyr) died. But through that death, there is life -- life for all," Pope Francis tells the youth.

"If I can transform the negative to positive, I am triumphant in the Lord. But that can only be done by the grace of Jesus Christ.

"Are you ready to transform your negative experiences into positive ones?" "Yes!" respond the youth in unison.

"Are you ready to transform hate into love?" "Yes!"

Are you ready to transform war into peace?" The crowd responds as one: "Yes!"

You are a people of the martyrs, the pontiff tells his young Ugandan audience.
 

 

 

4.10pm    'I asked to be killed'


The Emmanuel the Pope is talking about there is a one Emmanuel Odokonyero who had earlier been called forward to give his testimony on the experience of war.

He told the crowd that on May 11, 2003, they were attacked at the Seminary, where members of O'Level were abducted by rebels. And while in captivity, he said, "we faced poor health, starvation as well as hitting other people with pangas [machetes].

"I asked to be killed when I was caught trying to escape," Odokonyero said in a moving testimony. "But I later managed to escape. Merciful God guided me through that time of my suffering."

The former rebel captive then went on to pray for all those that are still in captivity, adding that "to all those who tortured us, I am glad that my heart found love, peace and forgiveness".

To his fellow youth, he had one last message: "Amidst challenges, let's have hope by believing and trusting in Jesus Christ."

 

 

 

Pope addresses youth


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"Jesus experienced the most negative things ever imaginable in life. He was rejected and murdered," Pope Francis tells his massive young audience.

"But by God's grace he resurrected from the dead. He can do the same in us with everything difficult situation we go through . . . because Jesus is Lord."

Drawing deafening applause, the pontiff continues in Latin, through a translator: "Let us try all of you to imagine something -- imagine the suffering of Emmanuel: when he knew that his friends were being tortured, when he knew that his friends were being murdered, he was courageous. He took a risk (of trying to escaping).

"He trusted in Jesus. And he escaped."

 

 

4.00pm    Gift to Pope


The youth, through their representatives, present a gift in the form of a sculpture to the Pope, who gladly accepts it.

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3.40pm    Youth 'future of the church'


Bishop Paul Ssemogerere takes to the dais where he thanks the Pope for "accepting to meet the youth". The young people are "very enthusiastic, full of life", he says.

"The youth are seen as the future of the church."

The Bishop of Kasana-Luweero calls for commitment from the young generation since they are the "hope, the present and future of the church".

"We are grateful to you for accepting to meet the youth of Uganda.

 

 

 

3.38pm    Settling down


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The Pope alights from his mobile vehicle and after a few greetings, is led to his seat under the tent. It's a bit windy but not too strong, so the pontiff shouldn't be worried about having his skullcap blown off.

A young boy, called Adolf, leads the prayer, after which a group of youth open the day with a stage performance. The Pope takes his seat and watches on.
 

 

 

 

His Holiness arrives at Kololo

 

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The large crowd waves small flags as the popemobile, guided by the pontiff's black-suited security detail, aided by the team of Ugandan security, eases into the Kololo grounds and through the crowds as the Pope waves to the electric youthful crowd. Jingles and cheers fill the air at the venue as people crane their necks to have a glimpse of the Pope.

Many here were not born yet 22 years ago when Uganda had last hosted a pope . . . .

 

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3.10pm    Prayers at Kololo


It's a prayer-filled atmosphere on a beautifully-hot day at Kololo Grounds as the large crowd of youth await the arrival of Pope Francis.

The Pontiff is just around the corner . . .

 

 

 

2.00pm    From the cyber

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1.30pm    Go green

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Pope Francis has previously come out to urge the world to act quickly to prevent "extraordinary" climate change from destroying the planet, saying rich countries must bear responsibility for creating the problem, and finance a solution.

Today, he will meet Ugandan youth at Kololo. Among those in attendance are these Oxfam officials exhibiting materials on climate change.

 

 

 

11.45am    Youth fill Kololo

 

It is business and mingling as hundreds of youth await a landmark meeting with Pope Francis later in the afternoon.
 

 

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Earlier, the youth at Kololo caught up with the proceedings at Namugongo, thanks to a giant screen mounted at the grounds.

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Pope blesses congregation, Mass ends


Pope Francis concludes the Holy Mass at Namugongo by blessing everyone.

The Mass ends and the choir lends its voice to this effect . . .

 

 

11.20am    'Many positive testimonies'


The Uganda Catholic leader thanks the Missionaries of Africa "who planted the seeds of Christianity". Lwanga also thanks the Ugandan government for making June 3rd a public holiday to honour the Uganda martyrs.

"We have many positive testimonies over the Uganda martyrs.

"We wish you many blessings," he tells the Pope. Please come again, when you can."

And to the congregation: "May God bless you and I thank you once again for coming."

 

 

 

11.07am    Archbishop Lwanga speaks


The Kampala Archbishop recognizes key people in attendance, including South Sudan President Salva Kiir and the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi.

"I greet you on behalf of everyone here today when we crown the golden jubilee of the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs," he says, adding that St. Charles Lwanga, one of the martyrs, was martyred at the spot where the altar sits.

Lwanga points out that the Uganda martyrs have been influential to not only Ugandans, but also to other people around the world. "These African martyrs opened a new era."

"Africa is the land of Gospel, the new homeland of light."




 

 

11.00am    Meanwhile, hundreds of youth are at Kololo

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They will be addressed by Pope Francis, who is leading Holy Mass at Namugongo. The Pontiff, on his last day in Kenya, met youths at Kasarani in Nairobi.

 

 

 

10.50am   'Peace be with you'

Time for exchanging a sign of peace (through a handshake).

 

 

 The Mass continues . . .

After conducting Mass, Pope's next program is a meet with youth at Kololo grounds.

 

 

 10.20am   'Legacy'


"Dear brothers and sisters, this is the legacy that you’ve received from the Uganda Martyrs. It is not served by an occasional remembrance," says the soft-spoken Pope. "May the Uganda Martyrs intercede for us."

"Omukama abawe omukisa," he concludes his homily, by asking God to bless us.

 

 

 

 10.10am    'Worldly pleasures do not bring peace'


The Pope talks about peace and joy, saying "worldly pleasure do not bring lasting joy and peace". He says "genuine concern" instead does.

 

 

10.05am   Uganda martyrs 'were fearless'

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Pope Francis delivers his homily in Latin, and is translated into English. During his sermon, the pontiff speaks of how the Uganda Martyrs continue to inspire many people in the world.

"Today we recall with gratitude the sacrifice of the Uganda Martyrs. They tendered to their faith and deepened their love for God. They were fearless. Their faith became witness."

 

 

 

9.58am   Gospel

The gospel according to the Book of Matthew


9.55am   2nd Reading

The First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles and it is read by assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Felix Kaweesi.

 

9.46am   1st Reading

The First reading is taken from the The Second Book of Maccabees

 

 

 

Holy Mass underway


Pope Francis is now conducting Mass at Namugongo. The choir sings the Kyrie eleison, followed by Ekitibwa. The congregation sings and claps along.

 [Drums accompany the music]

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8.50am    'Massive congregation'


Thousands of faithful cheer on Pope Francis as he waves to the large gathering while being driven inside his popemobile. The Pontiff will conduct mass any time from now.
 

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9.05am    Tight security

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The Pope has arrived to a serene hymn by the choir at the fully-packed Namugongo shrine. As you would expect, security is water-tight . . .

 

 

 

8.50am    'Thank you for the visit of the Pope'

 
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Once done, the Pope is led out of the building where a large group of faithful waits patiently. Outside, The Lord's Prayer is recited before Archbishop Ntagali says a quick prayer of thanks to God.

"We thank you for the visit of the Pope, thank you for our martyrs," he prays, before blessing the people, together with the Pope.

Moments later, the Pope, cheered on by a large crowd on either side of the Namugongo road, is now making his way to the Catholic Shrine.

 

 

 

8.35am    Pope visits Anglican Martyrs' Shrine

The Pope takes a tour of the Anglican Matryrs Shrine led by Church of Uganda's Archbishop Stanley Ntagali.
 

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The pontiff goes on his knees and takes off some few minutes of silent prayer inside the shrine. There after, Archbishop Ntagali continues to show him around the expansive space.

 

 

 

Pope Francis arrives at Namugongo

 

 

8.20am    Namugongo awaits Pope's arrival

Namugongo is already full, ladies and gentlemen. And with President Yoweri Museveni there already, there is only one person everyone is waiting for . . .yes, you guess right: Pope Francis.

 

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8.15am    Pope's visit: Reason 3


State visit . . .

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President Yoweri Museveni,  according to the Office of the Prime Minister, wrote to the State of Vatican in December 2014, and officially invited the Holy Father to visit Uganda.

In response to the President’s invitation, the Holy See, on September 10, 2015, officially communicated the acceptance by Pope Francis to visit Uganda from November 27–29. Because the Pope is a head of state, this becomes a state visit.

“That is why you will see his flags, gold and white, flying. For the Pope to visit any state, he has to be invited by the two; the Church and the state. That is why you see that we (the church) are working together with the government,” Odama said earlier ahead of the Pope's arrival.

That's why the state welcomed him at Entebbe Airport and accorded him the guard of honour and a 21-gun salute reserved for visiting heads of state. The Pope later went to State House to visit President Museveni, meet the Cabinet and senior government officials. Again, on his departure tomorrow (Sunday), the President will see him off at Entebbe Airport on November 29.


Do you now know why Pope Francis has come to Uganda? I bet you do. Let's move on . . .

 

 

 

8.10am    Pope's visit: Reason 2


Pastoral obligation . . .


The Pope is the chief shepherd of all Catholics in the world. As a shepherd, he needs no reason to visit his sheep. When he met catechists and teachers at Munyonyo Friday evening, and then today the youth at Kololo, Bakateyamba elderly and disabled and the clergy thereafter, the Pontiff will be shepherding his flock.


Now you know why his plane is called Shepherd One

 

 

 

8.05am    Pope's visit: Reason 1

Pilgrimage . . .


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To begin with, Pope Francis is in Uganda to mark the 50th anniversary of the canonisation of the Uganda Martyrs by Pope Paul VI in 1954.

"Pope Francis was initially invited to Uganda for th October 18, 2014 celebrations, which was th golden jubilee celebrations of the canonisation of the Uganda Martrys. Since Pope Francis' schedule could not allow him to travel to Uganda at the time, the jubilee celebrations were postponed to this year to allow for his participation," explains Archbishop Odama.

The Pope, 78, therefore began his pilgrimage on Friday from Munyonyo Martyrs Shrine and will follow that up with a visit to Namugongo Martyrs' shrines. First, as by the program I outlined below (see entry 7.05am), he will go to the Church of Uganda shrine, where most of the martyrs were burned in a pyre. Then he will return to the Catholic shrine to say his only Pontifical Mass of his Ugandan visit.

 

 

 

 

8.00am    Pope's visit: 3 reasons

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Pope Francis, as you may know already, is in Uganda. He is visiting for three reasons, according to Archbishop John Baptist Odama. The pontiff's visit is a pilgrimage, a pastoral obligation and  a state visit.


Let's break this down . . .one by one

 

 

 

 

7.50am    All set at Namugongo


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7.45am    The early bird . . .


. . . finds a place to sit at Namugongo Martyrs Shrine.

 

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 It's not yet 8.00am local time and Namugongo is already packed.


 

 

7.45am    Welcoming a Pope


So how do you welcome a Pope? Learn from Uganda . . .


On Friday evening, Shepherd One, the plane used by the Pope, trundled across the surface of Entebbe Airport a little after 5pm local time . . .
 

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Thousands waited for him nearby, including two lovely girls and boy, who were ready to present a bouquet to the Pope . . .
 

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And when Shepherd One finally came to a halt and its door opened, Papal Nuncio,  Michael August Blume, in black robes with a hot pink sash and skullcap, entered the plane . . .
 

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Then emerged the man everyone had been waiting for, and defeaning cheers drowned the airport . . .
 

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President Yoweri Museveni and Pope Francis went up a dais for the anthems after the pontiff being introduced to some people that included the First Lady and Archbishop John Baptist Odama, the chairman of the Episcopal Conference . . .
 

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Seconds into the Vatican anthem, a 21-gun salute began . . .

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After the Ugandan and East African anthems, PresidentMuseveni introduced army and government officials, before handing over to Odama to introduce clergy from different Christian denominations . . .
 

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After completing the introductions, the pontiff headed for the traditional dancers, waving and smiling as the drumming and dancing rose to fever pitch . . .
 

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Yes, that's how you do it!



 


 

7.25am    The long wait
 

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On Friday evening, Ugandans lined up along the Kampala-Entebbe highway to welcome Pope Francis, as well as catch a glimpse of the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. Hundreds of people waited, particularly at Kibuye, where the Pope's convoy would turn off to Munyonyo – his next stop after State House, Entebbe.

 


The kids waited . . .

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The adults, too, didn't want to miss a chance of a lifetime . . .

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And, the residents of the skies also seemed particularly curious. . .

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Pope-mania it is!

 

 

 

7.15am    Pope's Saturday program
 

Here you go . . .
 

  • 8.30am: The Pope kicks of his day with a brief visit to the Anglican Martyrs Shrine
  • 9.00am: He then proceeds to the Catholic Shrine
  • 9.30am: He conducts Holy Mass for the Martyrs of Uganda in the area of the Catholi Shrine
  • 3.15pm: A meeting with the youth ensues at Kololo Airstrip
  • 5.00pm:  Visits Nalukolongo Mapera Bakateyamba's home to meet the sick and handicapped
  • 6.00pm: He then meets with bishops at the Archbishop's residence in Lubaga and thereafter meets the clergy at Lubaga Cathedral
  • 7.00am: Finally, he meets with priests, religious men and women and seminarians gathered in the cathedral, before finally retiring to the Nunciature
     

OK, now that we've got that covered, let's roll on . . .

 

 

 

7.00am    Rise and shine!

Uganda awakes in the midst of a Pope!


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Good morning everyone! Welcome to live text commentary of another day of Pope Francis' stay in Uganda. He jetted in Friday evening from Kenya where he had kicked off his landmark three-nation African trip mid-this week.

We'll have the Pope here until tomorrow, Sunday, after which the 78-year-old pontiff will head to Central African Republic (CAR) to wrap up a busy itinerary.

First up, a look at his program on what – going by my amateur attempt at photography (above) – promises to be a beautiful Saturday . . .

 

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