Pope Francis Makes First Africa Visit

NAMUGONGO, Uganda (AP) – More than 2 million people are expected to converge near a minor basilica in the Ugandan capital where Pope Francis will celebrate Mass on Saturday, an official with the Roman Catholic Church here said Monday even as workers put in extra hours to spruce up the shrine.

“We understand his fashion isn’t one of condemning and he’s somebody who’s very compassionate”, Okello said.

In his video message, Pope Francis told the people of the Central African Republic of the “joy which pervades me” on the occasion of his first visit to Africa and, in particular, to the vehicle. “The whole world is at war”.

While Francis has not changed Catholic dogma on homosexuality and has reaffirmed the church’s opposition to same-sex marriage, his more inclusive approach has cheered many gay Catholics while annoying conservatives.

Okello, an organizer of the pope’s visit to Kenya who also did groundwork for John Paul’s trip there in 1995, said he expects Francis will promote harmony despite Africa’s often contentious issues. “To weep for those who live for war and have the cynicism to deny it. God weeps, Jesus weeps”.

At the UN General Assembly in NY in September, the Pope condemned the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities and the destruction of cultural sites in the Middle East and North Africa.

U.S. President Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan, likened discrimination against gays to racism, speaking during a recent visit to Kenya, where about a third of the population is Catholic. That’s just fine with many Ugandans, who hope Francis will avoid the subject and instead preach more broadly about improving the lives of marginalized people. Pope Francis famously said: “Who am I to judge?” in referring to a purportedly gay priest.

The Vatican spokesman refused last week to say whether Francis would wade into the debate, but he would be unlikely to go against the wishes of his local bishops.

“The Christian Churches and many individual citizens in your country are offering a great deal of assistance in the reception of these people, giving them support and making them feel welcome”, the Pope said, adding that support to all humanitarian initiatives aimed at improving the living conditions in the countries of origin is equally important.