Ugandan martyrs are true heroes, Pope says during visit to nation

November 30, 2015

On the evening of November 27, Pope Francis arrived in Uganda, the second stop in his six-day apostolic journey to Africa. The nation of 37.9 million is 45% Catholic, 42% Protestant, and 12% Muslim.

Meeting with authorities and the diplomatic corps in the conference hall of the State House in Entebbe, the Pope said that “my visit to your country is meant above all to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the canonization of the Uganda martyrs by my predecessor, Pope Paul VI.”

“The martyrs, both Catholic and Anglican, are true national heroes,” he continued. “ They remind us of the importance that faith, moral rectitude and commitment to the common good have played, and continue to play, in the cultural, economic and political life of this country. They also remind us that, despite our different beliefs and convictions, all of us are called to seek the truth, to work for justice and reconciliation, and to respect, protect and help one another as members of our one human family.”

The Pope also said that “here in East Africa, Uganda has shown outstanding concern for welcoming refugees, enabling them to rebuild their lives in security and to sense the dignity which comes from earning one’s livelihood through honest labor … How we deal with them is a test of our humanity, our respect for human dignity, and above all our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need.”

The Pope then visited Munyono, where he addressed thousands of catechists and teachers. Discussing the importance of teaching children to pray, he said that “you must be teachers, but this is not enough; you also have to be witnesses. Your example should speak to everyone of the beauty of prayer, the power of mercy and forgiveness, the joy of sharing in the Eucharist with all our brothers and sisters.”

On November 28, Pope Francis began the day’s public events with a visit to the shrines of the Anglican and Catholic martyrs slain by King Mwanga II between 1885 and 1887. Offering Mass at the Catholic shrine, he preached:

If, like the martyrs, we daily fan into flame the gift of the Spirit who dwells in our hearts, then we will surely become the missionary disciples which Christ calls us to be. To our families and friends certainly, but also to those whom we do not know, especially those who might be unfriendly, even hostile, to us …

The witness of the martyrs shows to all who have heard their story, then and now, that the worldly pleasures and earthly power do not bring lasting joy or peace. Rather, fidelity to God, honesty and integrity of life, and genuine concern for the good of others bring us that peace which the world cannot give. This does not diminish our concern for this world, as if we only look to the life to come. Instead, it gives purpose to our lives in this world, and helps us to reach out to those in need, to cooperate with others for the common good, and to build a more just society which promotes human dignity, defends God’s gift of life and protects the wonders of nature, his creation and our common home.

The Pontiff then met with over 150,000 young people at Kololo Air Strip in Kampala and encouraged them to rely upon God the Father in moments of deep discouragement.

In his extemporaneous remarks, he also asked, “What would the Uganda martyrs say about the misuse of our modern means of communication, where young people are exposed to images and distorted views of sexuality that degrade human dignity, leading to sadness and emptiness? What would be the Uganda martyrs’ reaction to the growth of greed and corruption in our midst? Surely they would appeal to you to be model Christians …”

Later that afternoon, the Pope visited the House of Charity of Nalukolongo, where the Good Samaritan Sisters serve the sick, disabled, and poor.

Lamenting human trafficking and contempt for the unborn, the young, and the elderly, he said, “Today, from this home, I appeal to all parishes and communities in Uganda – and the rest of Africa – not to forget the poor, not to forget the poor! The Gospel commands us to go out to the peripheries of society, and to find Christ in the suffering and those in need. The Lord tells us, in no uncertain terms, that is what he will judge us on!”

On the evening of November 28, delivered his last address in Uganda to priests, religious, and seminarians at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Kampala.

“Jesus wants to use you to touch the hearts of yet other people: he wants to use your mouths to proclaim his saving word, your arms to embrace the poor whom he loves, your hands to build up communities of authentic missionary disciples,” he said.

The Pope warned that

modern life also offers so many distractions which can dull our consciences, dissipate our zeal, and even lure us into that “spiritual worldliness” which eats away at the foundations of the Christian life. The work of conversion – that conversion which is the heart of the Gospel of Jesus (cf. Mk. 1:15) – must be carried out each day, in the battle to recognize and overcome those habits and ways of thinking which can fuel spiritual complacency.

 

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Further information:

• Apostolic Journey of the Holy Father to Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic, 25-30 November 2015 (Holy See)
• Francis in Africa (Vatican Radio)