At the beginning of the Holy Mass at the Shrine of the Uganda, Pope Francis was greeted by the Archbishop of Kampala, Cyprien Kizito Lwanga.
Below please find the full text of Archbishop Lwanga’s remarks:
Your Holiness we welcome you with joy and gratitude to Uganda, to Africa and to Namugongo Martyrs shrine.
In the first place, I thank God for your blessed presence here with us. I greet you on behalf of all the pilgrims present here today on this historical occasion when we crown the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the canonization of the Uganda Martyrs which took place on 18th October 1964.
Yesterday when I welcomed Your Holiness at Munyonyo I told you that you had started a holy pilgrimage from the very spot where the martyrs were condemned to death and started their holy journey to Namugongo where most of them were executed for their faith on 3rd June 1886. You are now at the climax of your pilgrimage at the place where the leader of Christ’s faithful in Uganda – Saint Charles Lwanga was martyred on the spot where the altar stands in the glorious Shrine (Basilica) in front of you. Two of your venerable predecessors, Blessed Pope Paul VI and St. Pope John Paul II have been to this spot. We are now blessed to have you amongst us here and thus being the third Pontiff to make a pilgrimage here.
Some of the fruits of the canonization of the Uganda Martyrs are;
- Increase of vocations to the Priesthood and the Religious life
- Increase of the Christian Faith and the growth of the devotion to the Uganda Martyrs all over the world
- Many Institutions have been named after the Uganda Martyrs worldwide
- The faith is growing in Africa as a result of their example and sacrifice which they made.
- Many Lay Apostolate movements under the patronage of the Uganda Martyrs have been formed such as;
- The Uganda Martyrs Guild that promotes the lay Apostolate.
- The Ladies and Knights of St. Karoli Lwanga for the University Students and Professionals.
- The Ladies and Knights of St. Matia Mulumba for the Adults, this was started in Nigeria.
- St. Kizito Children Association for the Children popularly known as the Bannakizito.
- St. Karoli Lwanga Association for the Youth Apostolate popularly known as the Karolines.
All these achievements and fruits that point out the influence of the Uganda Martyrs on people’s spiritual life in Uganda and the world at large in the last 50 years.
All this is in line with what Blessed Pope Paul VI said during their canonization of the Uganda Martyrs on 18th October 1964, he said “These African Martyrs open a new era… Africa is rising free and redeemed, bathed in the blood of these martyrs.. Africa is land of the Gospel. Africa is the new homeland of Christ”
Your Holiness we would like to thank the Government of Uganda for making 3rd June a public holiday here in Uganda to honour the day on which most of the Uganda Martyrs were martyred here at Namugongo and Millions of people from all over the world come to this place to honour the Uganda Martyrs and pray through their intercession to strengthen their faith and also to overcome their challenges. I am glad to inform you that we have many positive testimonies about the Uganda Martyrs and we assure you of our filial support and prayers
We wish you many God’s choicest blessings on your Pilgrimage to Uganda and we thank you and welcome you with joy, and gratitude to Uganda.
For God and my Country.
