Uganda will hold a solemn national Requiem Mass in honour of His Holiness Pope Francis this Friday, April 25, 2025, at Rubaga Cathedral, the Uganda Episcopal Conference has announced.
The Mass, set to begin at 12:00 PM, will be led by Bishops under the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC) and is expected to draw thousands of Catholics from across the country, including government dignitaries, clergy, members of religious orders, and lay faithful.
The public has been invited to participate in this historic Eucharistic celebration, which marks Uganda’s official farewell to the late Pontiff.
In a statement signed by Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, the Secretary General of UEC, the Chairman of the Episcopal Conference, Rt. Rev. Joseph Antony Zziwa, called on all Ugandan Catholics and non-Catholics alike to come together in prayer and reflection to honour the life and service of Pope Francis.
“The Pope has been a global beacon of humility, compassion, and justice. His spiritual leadership touched countless lives, including here in Uganda,” the statement read.
To allow the faithful to express their condolences, a condolence book was opened at Rubaga Cathedral on Tuesday, April 22. It remains open to the public for signing until the day of the Mass.
Pope Francis passed away last week, sending shockwaves throughout the global Catholic community. In Uganda, a country where Catholicism is deeply rooted, his passing has sparked nationwide mourning and prayer vigils. Religious leaders have described the Pope as a unifying figure who spoke passionately about peace, social justice, and care for the marginalised.
Friday’s Mass will be more than a religious ceremony; it will be a national moment of unity, gratitude, and farewell to a Pope whose influence reached far beyond the Vatican.
