LUBAGA – The Holy Father — Pope Francis has sent a special message to African Bishops, telling them to continue preaching the world of God despite the growing satanic and cultic practices that seek to undermine the Catholic Church.
The message contained in his homily read by the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda His Excellency Archbishop Luigi Bianco at Sacred Heart Lubaga Cathedral as Africa under their umbrella body the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) celebrated 50 years of evengilsation in Africa.
If the prelates remain strong, Pope Francis noted, the great work of evangelization will continue thriving on the continent.
Pope Francis had been invited to preside over the celebrations but earlier in the year, the Pontiff informed President Museveni that he was not able to make it.
SECAM was inaugurated in Uganda by Pope Paul VI in 1969 during what was referred to as the first visit by a pope to Africa in modern times.
The President Museveni who presided over the Holy mass at Lubaga said that all the bishops present have brought blessings to Uganda.
Mr. Museveni however tasked African Bishops and other Church leaders on the Continent to ensure people are engaged in better methods of wealth creation
He said that Africa has spiritually grown more than any other continent in the world, but reinforcing Africa’s spiritual position should be in consonance with Africa’s people’s economic welfare.
“Christians and Muslims alike on the African continent should engage their flocks by sensitising them about the law of economic productivity,” the president said.
“Why is it that Africa with a population of 1.3 billion people, land with great wealth is not developed in comparison to Europe, which is four times less the size of Africa with a population of 320 million people be tremendously developed.”
The President said “the reason is simple; culture. We are stuck in subsistence farming. Only working for the stomach not considering the element of money and accountability and profitability. Modern life is for money, economic evaluation and profitability of the economy.”
The Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, the Archbishop of Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cape Coast, Ghana said the Catholic Church has influenced human development in Africa.
He said the Catholic Church in its steady growth of 50 years has been at the forefront of trying to discuss and talk to the heads of state in Africa to influence peace and development.
Archbishop Buckle recalled the ‘prophecy’ by Pope Paul VI who foresaw and declared the African Church a grown one, saying it was high time Africa got its own Shepherd and preach to itself in what he termed African Christianity.
Apparently, all African Bishops are at the Munyonyo Speak Resort for the official opening of their 18th SECAM plenary.
The Bishops will reflect on the journey of 50 years and plan how they will lead the flock of the lord for the years come.
At the end a month-long meeting, the prelates will adopt a declaration which will give direction on where the Church in Africa should be in the next 50 years, in terms of pastoral priorities.
The climax of the SECAM assembly will be blessed with Mass at the Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Namugongo on July 29.
