UGANDA: Pope Francis Won’t Attend SECAM Golden Jubilee In Person – Church Announces
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.
By Jacinta W. Odongo
(Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference)
