Pope Francis has said his first trip to Africa was full of
surprises and praised the people for having a great “sense of welcoming”. The
Pontiff, who returned to Vatican on Monday after a seven-day trip, to
Kenya, Uganda and
the Central African Republic, also said he was happy to have been to Uganda,
singling out the country as being unique with the story of the Uganda Martyrs.
“Every nation of course has its own identity; Kenya is more modern, Uganda has its identity with the Martyrs and I went to both shrines – the Anglican and Catholic,” he said while fielding questions from the journalists travelling on the Papal plane.
Pope Francis arrived in Uganda
last Friday from Kenya, and was here for a three-day state visit, the
climax of which he led an open air Eucharistic celebration at the Uganda
Martyr’s Catholic Shrine Namugongo attended by thousands of believers last
Saturday.
Pope Francis also met with catechists and teachers before another meeting with
thousands of Ugandan youth at Kololo, where he challenged them to turn
negatives into positives. The Pope later met bishops of Uganda, priests and
seminarians and also met with Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. The Pope had on
arrival in Uganda on Friday, met privately with President Museveni at State House,
Entebbe, before addressing diplomatic corps attached to Uganda and government officials.
The Pontiff left Uganda on Sunday, enroute Central African Republic, his last stop on his maiden African trip, where he says he saw desire for peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.
He said he saw a spirited will to foster peace – not hatred – and hoped the people of CAR will hold elections that can propel the nation to prosperity.
Asked whether he planned to visit Africa again anytime soon, Pope Francis responded by saying he is an old man “and these trips are heavy business.”
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