“Peace be with all of you!” — Pope Leo XIV’s first words from the loggia of St Peter’s Basilica, 8 May 2025 (Vatican News)
1 White Smoke, New Dawn
Yesterday the world watched white smoke billow above the Sistine Chapel, heralding the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267-th Bishop of Rome. Taking the name Pope Leo XIV, the Chicago-born missionary becomes the first pontiff from the United States and a shepherd formed on the dusty back roads of Peru, where he spent two decades walking with the poor. (The Guardian, AP News)
2 Why His Election Resonates in Uganda
Pope Leo XIV has long preached a Gospel rooted in social justice, workers’ rights, and defence of the marginalised—values that pulse at the core of our own People Power struggle. His admiration for Pope Leo XIII, author of the pro-labour encyclical Rerum Novarum, signals a papacy that may amplify grassroots voices from Kampala to Cusco. (The Guardian)
In Uganda, where Dictator Yoweri Museveni and his son Muhoozi tighten their grip through fear and corruption, such moral leadership is more than symbolic; it is a megaphone for the silenced.
3 President Kyagulanyi’s Message of Congratulations
“On behalf of the People Power movement, I salute Pope Leo XIV. May his ministry strengthen the global fight for dignity and justice, especially for nations still chained by dictatorship.” — President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu
The President’s words reflect the hope that Vatican diplomacy—grounded in Leo XIV’s missionary heart—will spotlight human-rights abuses and press Uganda toward genuine democracy.
4 A Call for Prophetic Solidarity
We Ugandans know that true peace is not the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice. We therefore invite Pope Leo XIV to:
- Speak boldly for prisoners of conscience like Eddie Mutwe and thousands of unnamed detainees.
- Encourage the Catholic bishops of Uganda to defend voters’ rights ahead of the 2026 elections.
- Leverage Vatican diplomacy to tie international aid to measurable human-rights benchmarks.
Such action would honour both his namesake Leo XIII and the Latin American parishioners who shaped his pastoral vision.
5 Seeds of Hope for a Troubled Continent
Africa’s youth—80 percent of Ugandans are under 35—hunger for leaders who place people above power. Pope Leo XIV’s election reminds us that even ancient institutions can choose renewal over stagnation. If the College of Cardinals can break precedent, so too can a nation trapped under one family’s rule.
Let every parish bell that rang in celebration also toll for the oppressed, urging Catholics worldwide to stand with movements that embody Christ’s preferential option for the poor.
6 Our Pledge as People Power
As Fred Lumbye, I pledge that our struggle will remain non-violent, principle-driven, and open to all faiths. We extend a hand of partnership to Pope Leo XIV in building a Uganda—and a world—where “peace be with all of you” is not merely a blessing but a daily reality.
Viva Papa Leo XIV! Viva People Power!
#WeAreRemovingADictator | #CatholicChurch | #SocialJustice
