Vatican City — Uganda’s Catholic bishops have met Pope Leo XIV as they near the conclusion of their weeklong ad limina apostolorum visit, a sacred pilgrimage that renews their unity with the apostles and strengthens ties with the Holy See.
The visit, whose Latin name means “to the threshold of the apostles,” brought the bishops to Rome for prayer, reflection and reporting on the state of the Church in Uganda. During their stay, they prayed at the tombs of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, central figures in the early Church, and also visited the tomb of Pope Francis.
The audience with the pope marked a key moment in the pilgrimage, offering an opportunity for direct engagement on pastoral priorities and the mission of the Church in Uganda.
Church officials said the visit also included meetings with various Vatican departments, known as dicasteries. These engagements provided guidance on evangelization, education, communication and social teaching, while reinforcing the Church’s role in promoting peace, justice and the common good.
The ad limina visit is coordinated by the Dicastery for Evangelisation and is traditionally held every five years, though schedules can vary. Bishops use the visit to submit a quinquennial report, a detailed account of life in their dioceses.
These reports cover a wide range of areas, including liturgical life, sacraments, Catholic education, evangelization efforts, financial status and social outreach. The structure of the reports aligns with the different offices of the Vatican, allowing for focused review and feedback.
Uganda’s bishops last made the pilgrimage in June 2018. The current visit comes as the Church reflects on growth, challenges and opportunities within the country.
There are 18 ordinary bishops across Uganda’s 19 dioceses, following the recent death of Charles Martin Wamika, the ordinary of Jinja. Their collective participation underscores the importance of the visit as a moment of accountability, unity and renewal.
