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| Pope John Paul II |
Information received from various conferences in the region said hundreds of Pilgrims led by Bishops from AMECEA member Countries have travelled to Rome to witness the historic event.
Thanks to Pope John Paul II who is well known to many people in the region because of the number of visits he made during his Pontificate.
From Eritrea AMECEA got information that the Bishop of Asmara, Abune Menghisteab Tesfamariam, M.C.C.I. has travelled to Rome to witness the event.
From Kenya, a delegation, consisting of Bishops, clergy, Religious and hundreds of Lay faithful led by H.E. John Cardinal Njue have travelled to Rome for the same occasion. Kenya was the first AMECEA country to be visited by Pope John Paul II, where he made a total of three visits. His first visit was from 6th - 8th May 1980. The Second Visit was from 16th -19th August 1985, during the celebrations of the 43rd International Eucharistic Congress which took place in Nairobi. While the third visit was from 18th -20thSeptember 1995, during which he marked the conclusion of the First Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops and promulgated the Apostolic Letter Ecclesia in Africa, the Church in Africa.
From the Conference of Malawi, AMECEA was informed that, Archbishop of Lilongwe Tarcisio Ziyaye, who is also AMECEA Chairman, together with members of clergy and 20 Malawian Lay people are already in Rome to witness to the event. Pope John Paul II visited Malawi from 4th -6th May 1989 and he managed to visit the Dioceses of Lilongwe and Blantyre.
From the Uganda, AMECEA Online News was informed that a delegation of 200 people consisting of the Clergy, Religious and Lay people led by Most John Baptist Odama, the Archbishop of Gulu and the chairman of the conference by have made the pilgrimage to Rome for the occasion. Archbishop Odama is accompanied by the Archbishop of Kampala Most Rev Cyprian Kizito Lwanga. Pope John Paul II Visited Uganda from 5th– 9th February 1993. While in the country, on 7th February he elevated the Shrine of Uganda Martyrs to the status of a Minor Basilica.
On the same day he blessed the sick at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya saying “With joy and affection I greet you, the sick and disabled of Uganda, and invoke upon you the grace and mercy of God our Father. With this Message, which I entrust to Bishop Henry Ssentongo, President of the Medical Bureau of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, it is my desire to embrace all of you who are living the mystery of human suffering in this beloved African nation.” On 8thFebruary he visited Kasese Diocese and led the Eucharistic celebrations while on 9th he went to Soroti for Eucharistic Celebrations before leaving the country.
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| Pope John Paul II is Welcomed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by the president of Kenya Daniel Arap Moi (left) upon his arrival during his first visit to the country in 1980 |
Information received from Tanzania Episcopal Conference, said H.E. Polycarp Cardinal Pengo has led a delegation to Rome for the celebrations. Cardinal Pengo is accompanied by Rt Rev Agapiti Ndorobo, Bishop of Mahenge, who is already in Rome for the event. The Conference has organized pilgrimages to the places visited by Pope John Paul II during his visit to the Country in 1990. In the Metropolitan of Mwanza, the Bishops will be at Kawekamo (the place where Pope John Paul II celebrate Mass) with the pilgrims to celebrate the event. There, the faithful gathered will have an advantage of having a “Live TV Coverage” of the Canonization from the Vatican.
Pope John Paul II visited Tanzania from 1st -5th September 1990. On 2nd September he presided over the priestly ordination at Jangwani grounds in Dar-es-Salaam. Then on 3rd September, he conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation at Ruhuwiko grounds in Songea Archdiocese and on the same day he traveled to Mwanza. On 4th September he celebrated the Liturgy of the Word at Ali Hassan Mwinyi Stadium in Tabora Archdiocese. On the same day he addressed faithful gathered in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Moshi Diocese. On 5th he celebrated Holy Mass at the Stadium in Moshi before leaving the country.
From Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference AMECEA was information that H.E. Gabriel Cardinal Zubeir Wako has travelled to Rome to witness the Occasion. Together with him is the Emeritus Bishop of Torit (South Sudan) Rt Rev Paride Taban. Bishop Taban said he is going there to pray and ask for the intercession of the two Saints to solve the crisis of South Sudan. Bishop Taban said God’s intervention and miracle is necessary for the country to achieve peace.
Bishop Taban said the South Sudanese should use the event and Easter celebrations to repent and forgive one another for all the past and present offences against one another. The Bishop Emeritus, who is a Peace Prize Winner, said after attending the canonization he will proceed to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to participate in the talks for peace agreement in South Sudan.
Pope John Paul II visited Khartoum, Sudan on 10th February 1993 and led the Eucharistic Celebrations at the Green Square Khartoum in honor of Blessed Josephine Bakhita. He left the country on the same day.
From Zambia Episcopal Conference AMECEA was informed that a delegation, led by bishops has also gone to Rome for the celebrations. Pope John Paul II visited Zambia from 2nd - 4thMay 1989 and managed to visit two dioceses, the Archdiocese of Lusaka and the Diocese of Ndola.
During his reign, Pope John Paul II ("The Pilgrim Pope") made 104 foreign trips, more than all previous Popes combined.
Source: AMECEA Social Communications, Vatican Information Services and News Agencies