Today: Thursday, 25 April 2024 year

Pope Francis Arrives Uganda, Declares Africa Continent Of Hope

In the second leg of his three-nation, five-day Africa tour the Pope Francis arrived Friday to Uganda paying respects to the 19th century Ugandan Christians who were burned alive.

The Argentine pope is to pray at shrines later today dedicated to dozens of Anglican and Catholic martyrs killed between 1885 and 1887 by the local king. He said they remind the importance of faith, commitment and moral rectitude.

A Mass will be celebrated too to mark 50th anniversary of Catholics’ canonization.

Landing at Entebbe International Airport and greeted by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni the pope declared Africa the continent of hope.

Museveni has been in power since 1986.

The third and last leg of his Africa pilgrimage is the Central African Republic. In his first leg to Kenya he met religious leaders and addressed them to engage in dialogue to bring peace to the continent. He also urged the government to provide education and jobs to youths.