A Shepherd Among Us: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Pope Francis

The world mourns. Heaven rejoices.

On April 21, 2025, the Church lost a beloved shepherd, teacher, and father — His Holiness Pope Francis, who peacefully returned to the Lord at the age of 88. As the first Jesuit Pope and the first from Latin America, Pope Francis will be remembered as a pontiff who embodied humility, mercy, and a deep love for the poor and marginalized.

Here at Our Lady of Africa Catholic Church, Mbuya Parish, we do not only mourn as distant observers—we mourn as witnesses. We mourn as hosts who were blessed to receive the Holy Father in our very midst. During his historic Apostolic Visit to Uganda in November 2015, Pope Francis rested here, within the boundaries of our parish. The Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican Embassy), located just a stone’s throw from our sanctuary, served as his Ugandan residence.

It was a moment that forever changed us.
To welcome the Vicar of Christ into our community was a profound honor. His simple presence radiated peace and joy. The faithful gathered in awe, drawn not just to his status, but to his spirit — gentle, smiling, prayerful. For those brief yet blessed days, the hills of Mbuya became a little piece of Rome.

Pope Francis preached a Gospel of Encounter. He reminded us that the Church must go out — to the streets, to the margins, to the hearts of the wounded. His teachings on care for creation, interfaith dialogue, social justice, and the dignity of every human life will echo for generations to come.

Here in Mbuya, his call to protect our common home is alive through our active participation in the Laudato Si’ Movement. Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home inspired us to deepen our commitment to environmental stewardship and care for creation. Through the Laudato Si’ movement, we have come together as a parish community to raise awareness about the need to protect the environment and embrace sustainable practices.

Our Laudato Si’ movement in Mbuya has led to various initiatives, such as planting trees, reducing waste, and advocating for environmental justice. We are committed to living out Pope Francis’ vision for a more harmonious relationship with the earth — a vision that calls each of us to be stewards of God’s creation, not only for ourselves but for future generations.

In Mbuya, we do not forget. We carry with us the memory of his visit — not as a footnote in our parish history, but as a sacred chapter. His footprints remain, not only on our roads but on our hearts.

As we celebrate his life and commend his soul to God, we give thanks for the gift of Pope Francis. May his legacy continue to inspire a Church that is welcoming, inclusive, and courageous in the face of injustice. May his teachings on the environment and the care of creation guide us as we continue to build a sustainable, just, and compassionate world.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.

Our Lady of Africa, pray for us.
St. Francis of Assisi, intercede for him.