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Pope Leo XIV has received a group of Catholic Bishops of Uganda, visiting the Vatican under their umbrella body, the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC).
Led by the chairperson of the UEC and the Bishop of Kiyinda Mityana Diocese, Dr Anthony Ziwa, the clergy started their pilgrimage to Rome last week.
According to the Vatican, they were to participate in the traditional “ad limina apostolorum” visit. The Vatican indicated, “This is a significant event in the life of the local church.
The UEC, comprising 18 Catholic bishops from Uganda’s 19 dioceses, is the Assembly of the Catholic Hierarchy in Uganda, constituted with the approval of the Holy See.
Earlier today, Saturday, March 21, the UEC released a video on the meeting with the Pope and more photos of different activities within the Vatican.
“Thank you for receiving us,” Ziwa said while handing over a gift to the pontiff on behalf of the Ugandan delegation of bishops. The Pope responded, “Thank you.” This was before he extended a blessing to the team.
(Courtesy)
This is the first time the Ugandan bishops have met Pope Leo XIV as a group since his election.
Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8, 2025, as the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, succeeding Pope Francis.
He is the first American pontiff, born Robert Francis Prevost, and chose the name Leo XIV to honour Pope Leo XIII, who developed modern Catholic social teaching.
Apart from the group audience with Pope Leo XIV, the delegation on March 17, celebrated Holy Mass at the Basilica of St John Lateran, the Pope’s cathedral.
The schedule (March 14–21, 2026) includes several pilgrimages to different religious sites in the Vatican, including the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, the Basilica of St Mary Major and the tomb of Pope Francis.
They are also scheduled present reports on pastoral challenges, progress, and the overall life of the Church in Uganda.
In an interview with Vatican News ahead of the pilgrimage, Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok of Lira Diocese and vice chairman of the UEC, said the ad limina visit, lasting slightly more than a week, would include visits to various Dicasteries (departments) of the Holy See.
In the Catholic Church doctrines, “ad limina apostolorum” visit is a mandatory meeting with the Pope that all diocesan bishops must undertake every five years, to update him on the state of their dioceses. “The Ad Limina visit is thus a moment of deep communion with the universal Church. Through these encounters, the local churches remain closely united with the global mission of the Catholic Church.”
The visit, according to the Vatican, provides bishops with an opportunity for reflection and renewal on top of allowing each bishop to deepen his responsibility as a shepherd of God’s people and to return, strengthened and affirmed by the successor of the Apostle Peter.
Founded in 1960 UEC acts as the assembly of the Catholic hierarchy in Uganda.