“This will be the third time that Uganda welcomes a reigning
fundamental in Africa. They are the ones who carry the Church
Pope. You may wish to know that Uganda was the first country
forward,” the Pope said.
in Africa ever to be visited by a Pope. Blessed Pope Paul VI,
after canonizing the Uganda Martyrs in St. Peter’s basilica felt
a great desire to come to Uganda to venerate the martyrs. He
would be the first Pope to visit Africa in August 1969. Then later,
Besides the catechists, there are two other institutions which
stand out in caring for the people, which are the schools and the
hospitals, Pope Francis observed.
in February 1993 Pope St. John Paul II also visited Uganda. We
“The tenderness and the care many religious sisters, many laity
feel truly blessed and humbled in Uganda,” Archbishop Odama
spend years and years and years caring for the sick with great
added.
tragedies. How many laity go there to serve as doctors in the
In the Central African Republic, Bishop Nestor-Desire Nongo
tragedies!” he said.
Aziagbia of the Catholic Diocese of Bossangoa said, “while the
Francis also praised the creative spirit present in the African
pilgrimage will strengthen the faith of Catholics here, we hope it
liturgy, saying that behind it lay “a great spiritual experience.”
will also help local politicians and civil society leaders bridge the
He also touched on various challenges Africans face such as
gaps between them and direct them further towards dialogue and
terrorism and the exploitation of the land, which he spoke of in
reconciliation.”
his recent encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si.”
Central African Republic has been rocked by violence since the
Right now in Africa there is “a serious problem of the ideological
mostly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition toppled the president in
wars” led by groups such as Boko Haram that needs to be
2013. Widespread human rights abuses committed by Seleka led
addressed, he said, noting that the continent has also become “a
to the formation of a Christian militia known as the anti-Balaka,
place of divestment.”
who have targeted Muslims and sent tens of thousands fleeing to
neighboring countries.
“I say this with all respect and with a lot of love: Africa is an
attractive place to divest… (there is) the ability to go there in
The Seleka leader, Michel Djotodia, resigned in 2014 and a
search of wood, gold or metals, and ravage and leave,” the Pope
transitional government is steering the country until a national
explained.
vote on October 18 — a month before Francis arrives.
Pope Francis stressed the need to solve social and developmental
Pope Francis confirmed the plans to visit Africa in a June
problems so that people no longer need to travel to Europe in
12 meeting with hundreds of priests from around the world
search of a better life.
participating in the Third World Priests Retreat in the Basilica of
St. John Lateran when he answered a question from an African
“This is an emergency. What is needed is that Europe goes there
priest about when he planned to visit.
to Africa not to take things out of Africa, but to invest in Africa so
that Africa has industry, work, and the people don’t need to come
“God willing, I will be in Africa in November. In the Central
here. This is the more social work,” he said.
African Republic first and then Uganda,” he responded.
“Europe has been very generous with Africa in terms of what’s
Pope Francis also addressed pastoral concerns in Africa, noting
Catholic. Today the world isn’t generous with Africa because they
that while there might be a shortage of priests, the presence of
exploit it. They treat it as a land of exploitation.”
lay catechists is strong.
As far as the Church in Africa goes, “the backbone is the
THE SEED - VOL 27, No. 10 OCTOBER 2015
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Photo from the net
catechists. I think that the formation of lay catechists is