The Holy Father, Pope Francis today has joined the Ugandans in the celebrations of the Holy Mass to mark the 50th anniversary canonisations of the Uganda Martyrs at Namugongo shrine.
The Shrine commemorates the martyrdom of 22 young Catholic converts during an anti-Christian persecution that took place under Mwanga II, the king of Buganda.
Ten of thousands of pilgrims from different parts of Uganda and beyond attended the Mass, including the President of Uganda His excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and other dignitaries and members of diplomatic corps.
According to the information received from Kampala, Uganda some of the pilgrims had been there, at the shrine all night to honour the martyrs and see the Pope, braving rains and sleeping on mats.
Before getting to Namugongo shrine, Pope Francis passed through the Anglican shrine where he had a chance of visiting the martyr’s museum led by the Anglican Archbishop.
During his Homily the pope thanked the Martyrs for their contribution towards the catholic faith; "They are a living testimony," he said adding that “Uganda martyrs show us the way. Their faith sought the good of all people, including the very King who condemned them for their Christian beliefs. Their response was to meet hatred with love, and thus to radiate the splendour of the Gospel. They did not simply tell the King what the Gospel does not allow, but showed through their lives what saying “yes” to Jesus really means. It means mercy and purity of heart, being meek and poor in spirit, and thirsting for righteousness in the hope of an eternal reward.”
In the afternoon the Holy Father met the youth gathered at Kololo airstrip. Multitudes of youth attended the gathering.
Pope Francis is expected to leave the country on Sunday to his final destination the Central African Republic.
By AMECEA Online News reporter