Speaker Introduces Twins to Pope, Invites Pontiff to Uganda During Private Audience at the Vatican

On Saturday, Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, extended a heartfelt invitation to Pope Francis, urging him to visit Uganda once again. “Please come to Uganda again, Uganda loves,” she expressed during a private audience with the head of the Catholic Church at the Vatican.

The meeting, which highlighted the deep ties between Uganda and the Vatican, was marked by a moment of reverence as Speaker Among was seen kneeling to greet the Pontiff in a clip shared on the Uganda Parliament’s Instagram page. This gesture of humility and respect was followed by a series of discussions between the two leaders.

During their conversation, Speaker Among spoke of the profound impact of Pope Francis’ previous visit to Uganda in 2015, which left a lasting impression on the nation’s Catholic community and the country as a whole. She emphasized Uganda’s strong Christian heritage and the pivotal role the Catholic Church continues to play in the social, spiritual, and educational development of the country.

Speaker Among (L) had talks with Pope Francis at the Vatican over the weekend

She also introduced her twins to the pope who blessed them.

Following her audience with Pope Francis, Speaker Among held a separate meeting with His Eminence Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State. Their discussions focused on exploring avenues to strengthen the bilateral relations between Uganda and the Vatican. They also touched upon potential collaborations in areas of mutual interest, such as education, healthcare, and social justice.

“The relationship between Uganda and the Vatican is one of friendship and shared values,” Speaker Among said after the meetings. “We are committed to working closely with the Vatican to further these bonds and to continue supporting the work of the Catholic Church in Uganda.”

Uganda, a predominantly Christian nation with a significant Catholic population, has historically enjoyed warm relations with the Vatican. The Speaker’s visit is seen as a reinforcement of these ties and a gesture of goodwill from the Ugandan government.

The invitation extended to Pope Francis has sparked excitement among Ugandan Catholics, who remember the Pope’s previous visit with fondness and hope for another opportunity to welcome him to their country. If accepted, a future visit by Pope Francis would be a momentous occasion, further solidifying the spiritual and diplomatic connections between Uganda and the Holy See.