By Flavia Oyuu, Communications Office, Lira Diocese
The Bishop of Lira Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, on Saturday evening 28th March, 2026, returned to Uganda Martyrs Cathedral in Lira after a week-long Ad Limina Apostolorum visit to Rome.
Bishop Wanok arrived at the cathedral a few minutes past 6:00 p.m. and was received by a joyful crowd of pupils from St. Kizito Primary School accompanied by their school band.
In his welcome remarks, the Vicar General of Lira Diocese, Msgr. Innocent Valente Opio, said it gladdened the hearts of the faithful to receive “the father of the home” after two weeks of his absence from the diocese.
He thanked the Bishop for representing the people of Lira Diocese well before the Holy Father during the visit.
Msgr. Opio added that due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, Christians in the diocese had been praying for the Bishop to travel safely to Rome and return home without difficulty.
He also assured the Bishop that the diocese remained stable during his absence, noting that only a few minor challenges had occurred. Among them, he mentioned that Msgr. Polycarp Opio, the Vicar for the Clergy, had recently lost his uncle.
Speaking after the welcome, Bishop Wanok expressed gratitude to the faithful for the warm reception and for keeping him in prayer throughout his journey.
The Bishop shared that the visit to Rome had been both spiritually enriching and demanding, involving meetings with various Vatican offices as well as a personal audience with the Holy Father together with other bishops.
He said the Pope showed great concern about the wellbeing of Christians in their dioceses and encouraged the bishops to continue strengthening the faith of their people. According to Bishop Wanok, the Holy Father expressed joy that Uganda remains one of the strongest countries in Africa in matters of faith, largely because of the witness of the Uganda Martyrs.
The Bishop also noted that during the meetings, the bishops shared reports on different aspects of Church life, including education, health services, charitable work through Caritas and the general pastoral mission of the Church.
While in Rome, the bishops also visited important pilgrimage sites, including the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, where they prayed for the Church, the clergy, religious and the faithful back home.
Bishop Wanok said he remained in Rome briefly after the official meetings to make a personal retreat, during which he spent time in prayer for the people of Lira Diocese, the country and all those who had asked for his prayers.
He concluded by thanking the Christian community for their unity and commitment to supporting the mission of the Church in the diocese.
End
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