AFRICA - Ugandan Bishops: "Pope Francis comes here as a bridge builder"

Kampala (Agenzia Fides) - "In a Country like ours where unity and national consensus has eluded us for decades, the Pope comes as a bridge builder. This demands of us to imitate Christ who came to serve rather than to be served, it invites us to be servants to one another", said the Pastoral Message of the Ugandan Bishops in preparation for the Pope’s visit Francis in late November.
The message, sent to Agenzia Fides, invites the faithful to pray for the visit, to carry out acts of charity for the poor and "make every effort to reconcile and love one another as Christ has loved us".
The Bishops also underline the alarming gap and contradictions between the faith professed and the life Ugandans live, between the gospel and some traditional African practices such as polygamy, cohabitation, trial marriage, witchcraft and human sacrifice. "The family is also affected by infidelity, denial of mutual love, child abuse and domestic violence", denounces the message.
Even Kenya is preparing itself for Pope Francis’ visit, in particular, the National Eucharistic Congress has just concluded in which special attention was dedicated to the papal visit.
The event, held on October 3 at the National Shrine of Mary Subukia, Nakuru, was attended by over 25,000 faithful. "We are here to celebrate the presence of Christ among us. This must give us hope and strengthen our belief in serving God and others more", said His Exc. Mgr. Dominic Kimengich, Bishop of Lodwar and President of the Commission for the Liturgy of the Episcopal Conference of Kenya in his homily. The Bishop urged Christians to take the opportunity of the Eucharistic Congress to repent of serious crimes such as corruption and tribalism, which undermine society and the Christian community.
The previous Eucharistic Congress held in Kenya dates back to 1985 with the participation of St. John Paul II and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/10/2015)

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