Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kitgum (Fides Service)- “I have just said Mass for the Pope with local school children, about 3,000 of them. They took part with great attention and interest ” Augustinian missionary Father Tarcisio Agostoni, in Kitgum northern Uganda told Fides.
“We received the news of the Holy Father’s death under dramatic circumstances. Because of the time difference the news was broadcast at midnight. I immediately rang the passing bell and people flocked to church to see that had happened because only two hours earlier there had been an attack by the Lord’s Resistance Army and people feared the bell was a warning of another raid. When they heard the news everyone knelt down to pray for the Pope” the missionary said.
“The people of Kitgum love John Paul II. Many of the older ones remember his visit to Uganda in April 1993. On 6 April that year the Holy Father went to Gulu, the main town in northern Uganda, about 100 km from Kitgum. Well 2,600 people from Kitgum made the three day march to see the Pope. Many are still alive today and they remember the event with deep emotion”.
“The Pope’s visit was important for the Church in Uganda. The Pope visited four main areas: the east evangelised by American missionaries, the west evangelised by Mill Hill missionaries, the north evangelised by Italian missionaries and the south evangelised by the White Fathers” Father Tarcisio told Fides. “Now John Paul watches over us from heaven and we need his help because the war has not stopped. Last night during the LRA more children were kidnapped”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 5/4/2005 righe 26 parole 331)
