Following the meeting with young people this afternoon, the Holy Father, Pope Francis paid a visit to the Nalukolongo Bakateyambma Home, a house of charity founded in 1978 by the first Ugandan Cardinal, His Eminence, Emmanuel Kiwanuka Nsubuga, who is buried there. This institute welcomes and cares for one hundred poor people of every religious confession and regardless of their age, from early childhood to old age.
Arriving there shortly after 3:00pm, the Holy Father was welcomed by the Superior of the care centre which is entrusted to the Good Samaritan Sisters.
In the square outside the House in Nalukolongo, the Bishop in charge of Pastoral Ministry for matters of Health, His Excellency, Robert Muhiirwa presented the place and the people who come also from other similar institutions, then the Pope, before visiting with the sick and the poor in the House, spoke with those who were gathered.
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your warm welcome. I wanted very much to visit this House of Charity, which Cardinal Nsubuga founded here in Nalukolongo. This is a place which has always been associated with the Church’s outreach to the poor, the handicapped, the sick. Here, in early times, slave children were ransomed and women received religious instruction. I greet the Good Samaritan Sisters who carry on this fine tradition, and I thank them for their years of quiet and joyful service in this apostolate. And here, Jesus is present here, because he said that he would always be present among the poor, the sick, convicts, the destitute, those who suffer. Jesus is here.
I also greet the representatives of the many other apostolic groups who serve the needs of our brothers and sisters in Uganda. Above all, I greet the residents of this home and others like it, and all who benefit from these works of Christian charity. For this is a home. Here you can find love and care; here you can feel the presence of Jesus, our brother, who loves each of us with God’s own love.
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! How sad it is when our societies allow the elderly to be rejected or neglected! How wrong it is when the young are exploited by the modern-day slavery of human trafficking! If we look closely at the world around us, it seems that, in many places, selfishness and indifference are spreading. How many of our brothers and sisters are victims of today’s throwaway culture, which breeds contempt above all towards the unborn, the young and the elderly!
As Christians, we cannot simply stand by, stand by watching what is happening, without doing anything. Something must change! Our families need to become ever more evident signs of God’s patient and merciful love, not only for our children and elders, but for all those in need. Our parishes must not close their doors, or their ears, to the cry of the poor. This is the royal road of Christian discipleship. In this way we bear witness to the Lord who came not to be served, but to serve. In this way we show that people count more than things, that who we are is more important than what we possess. For in those whom we serve, Christ daily reveals himself and prepares the welcome which we hope one day to receive in his eternal kingdom.
Dear friends, by simple gestures, by simple prayerful actions which honour Christ in the least of his brothers and sisters, we can bring the power of his love into our world, and truly change it. I thank you once more for your generosity and love. I will remember you always in my prayers and I ask you, please, to pray for me. I commend all of you to the loving protection of Mary, our Mother, and I give you my blessing.
Omukama Abakuume
God protect you!
Returning to the Archbishop's Residence in Kampala, at 6:00pm this evening, the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with the Bishops of Uganda. Following a few words of greeting offered by the President of the Episcopal Conference, His Excellency, John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu, the Pope met privately with the Bishops of Uganada, in the presence of the Cardinals and Bishops who are part of the Papal party.
His Holiness then traveled by car to the Cathedral of Kampala for a meeting with priests, religious men and women and seminarians.
Arriving there shortly after 3:00pm, the Holy Father was welcomed by the Superior of the care centre which is entrusted to the Good Samaritan Sisters.
In the square outside the House in Nalukolongo, the Bishop in charge of Pastoral Ministry for matters of Health, His Excellency, Robert Muhiirwa presented the place and the people who come also from other similar institutions, then the Pope, before visiting with the sick and the poor in the House, spoke with those who were gathered.
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
to residents of the Nalukolongo Bakateyambma Home
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your warm welcome. I wanted very much to visit this House of Charity, which Cardinal Nsubuga founded here in Nalukolongo. This is a place which has always been associated with the Church’s outreach to the poor, the handicapped, the sick. Here, in early times, slave children were ransomed and women received religious instruction. I greet the Good Samaritan Sisters who carry on this fine tradition, and I thank them for their years of quiet and joyful service in this apostolate. And here, Jesus is present here, because he said that he would always be present among the poor, the sick, convicts, the destitute, those who suffer. Jesus is here.
I also greet the representatives of the many other apostolic groups who serve the needs of our brothers and sisters in Uganda. Above all, I greet the residents of this home and others like it, and all who benefit from these works of Christian charity. For this is a home. Here you can find love and care; here you can feel the presence of Jesus, our brother, who loves each of us with God’s own love.
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! How sad it is when our societies allow the elderly to be rejected or neglected! How wrong it is when the young are exploited by the modern-day slavery of human trafficking! If we look closely at the world around us, it seems that, in many places, selfishness and indifference are spreading. How many of our brothers and sisters are victims of today’s throwaway culture, which breeds contempt above all towards the unborn, the young and the elderly!
As Christians, we cannot simply stand by, stand by watching what is happening, without doing anything. Something must change! Our families need to become ever more evident signs of God’s patient and merciful love, not only for our children and elders, but for all those in need. Our parishes must not close their doors, or their ears, to the cry of the poor. This is the royal road of Christian discipleship. In this way we bear witness to the Lord who came not to be served, but to serve. In this way we show that people count more than things, that who we are is more important than what we possess. For in those whom we serve, Christ daily reveals himself and prepares the welcome which we hope one day to receive in his eternal kingdom.
Dear friends, by simple gestures, by simple prayerful actions which honour Christ in the least of his brothers and sisters, we can bring the power of his love into our world, and truly change it. I thank you once more for your generosity and love. I will remember you always in my prayers and I ask you, please, to pray for me. I commend all of you to the loving protection of Mary, our Mother, and I give you my blessing.
Omukama Abakuume
God protect you!
Returning to the Archbishop's Residence in Kampala, at 6:00pm this evening, the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with the Bishops of Uganda. Following a few words of greeting offered by the President of the Episcopal Conference, His Excellency, John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu, the Pope met privately with the Bishops of Uganada, in the presence of the Cardinals and Bishops who are part of the Papal party.
His Holiness then traveled by car to the Cathedral of Kampala for a meeting with priests, religious men and women and seminarians.
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