By Jacinta W. Odongo
(Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal
Conference)
 |
| SECAM Leaders with Pope Francis |
For
months Ugandans had hoped that His Holiness Pope Francis would attend in person
the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of
Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) which are slated for
July 23-28, 2019 in Uganda.
In a statement issued on Thursday,
February 21, 2019, the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) through its Secretary General,
Msgr John Baptist Kauta announced that Pope Francis will not attend the 2019
SECAM Golden Jubilee event.
“The office of the President of Uganda
has officially communicated to the UEC that the Holy Father will not be able to
attend the Symposium,” reads a section of the statement.
He however noted that despite the Pope
not attending the grand event, the celebration will proceed as scheduled, adding that more than 400 bishops from various
regional and national Conferences and other Church institutions in Africa and Madagascar are expected to attend.
Msgr Kauta stated that last year, the
UEC on behalf of SECAM, requested H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of
Uganda to invite Pope Francis for the climax of the celebration due in July
this year.
The SECAM Golden Jubilee celebration,
which was launched on July 29, 2018 at Lubaga Cathedral, will be held under the
theme: “Church-Family of God in Africa,
Celebrate your Jubilee! Proclaim Jesus Christ your Saviour.” The event is
expected to also attract thousands of faithful including top dignitaries and
government officials among others.
SECAM was born out of the will of
African bishops during the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) as they wanted to
establish a forum in which they could speak with one voice on matters pertaining
to the Church on the continent. The establishment of SECAM is, therefore, a
result of the bishops’ resolution to build a continental structure in order to
bring forth the African vision to the whole Church. His Holiness Pope Paul VI
presided over SECAM’s inauguration in July, 1969 in Kampala during his first
visit to Africa.
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