The speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Anita Among, has Wednesday morning met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican Palace, immediately following a Mass celebrated by the Pontiff.
The meeting focused on prayers for peace, unity, and love among nations, echoing the Pope’s enduring message of global solidarity.
This encounter continues Speaker Among’s longstanding tradition of engagement with the Vatican. Her August 24, 2024, visit to Pope Francis was notable not only for the diplomatic discussions she held with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, but also for the warm personal exchange that took place when she introduced her twins to the pontiff.
During that visit, Pope Francis presented her with a plaque honoring care for creation and several of his books. He also expressed his hope to return to Uganda—recalling fondly his 2015 visit and acknowledging the country’s warm reception of refugees.
Following Pope Francis’s passing, Speaker Among led Uganda’s Parliament in paying moving tribute on May 13, 2025, through a motion moved by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja.
The motion honored Pope Francis for his committed service to environmental stewardship and human dignity, and also congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th pope.
Among also represented Uganda at Pope Francis’s burial at the Vatican—a profound moment of national and spiritual significance.
Today’s audience with Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed Uganda’s enduring relationship with the Holy See. Amid shared values of peace, compassion, and unity, the discussions centered on strengthening bilateral ties and advancing mutual cooperation under the leadership of the new pontiff.
Speaker Among conveyed Uganda’s goodwill and optimism for future collaboration, emphasizing the country’s firm commitment to dialogue on both global and regional stages under Pope Leo XIV’s papacy.