Uganda Today: Speaker Anita Among Meets Pope Leo XIV in Vatican, Reaffirms Uganda’s Faith and Diplomacy Ties
Vatican City | Uganda Today – August 13, 2025
The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, has met with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, marking yet another historic chapter in her growing legacy of engagement with the Holy See.
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The meeting took place at the Vatican shortly after Pope Leo XIV celebrated Holy Mass, during which special prayers were offered for global peace, unity, and love among nations. Speaking after the encounter, Speaker Among expressed her gratitude:
“I was honoured to meet His Holiness @Pontifex at the Vatican after he celebrated Mass, during which prayers were offered for peace, unity, and love among nations. It is always fulfilling to visit the Vatican and join Catholic faithful worldwide to pray together and renew our faith.”
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Later in the day, she also held discussions with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, where they addressed matters of mutual interest, including Uganda–Vatican relations, the Church’s role in social development, and interfaith cooperation.
A Legacy of Papal Engagement
This is not Speaker Among’s first papal audience. Over the years, she has met three pontiffs — Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and now Pope Leo XIV — a rare distinction among African political leaders and a testament to her unique role as both a public servant and a devout Catholic.
Her engagements with successive Popes reflect a consistent effort to position Uganda as a key moral voice on the African continent and a strong partner in faith-based diplomacy.
While Pope Leo XIV is the newly elected head of the Roman Catholic Church, continuing the global mission of compassion and justice, Speaker Among’s visit reaffirms Uganda’s support for the Vatican’s enduring message of peace, unity, and the dignity of all people.
A Pilgrimage of Purpose
Among’s frequent visits to the Vatican are not merely ceremonial — they are deeply spiritual and politically symbolic. In a nation where Catholicism plays a central role in public life, her presence at the heart of global Catholicism is both a personal pilgrimage and a national gesture of solidarity.
Uganda’s Catholic Church has historically partnered with the state in delivering education, health care, and social services. Speaker Among has often acknowledged this, praising the Church’s contribution to moral and social development.
Her recent Vatican trip comes at a time when Uganda is navigating complex social, political, and economic transitions — making her renewed calls for unity and faith especially resonant.
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