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                  Pope Francis To Hold Open Air Mass In Uganda

   by VOA News

   Over a million people are expected to gather Saturday at a shrine in
   Uganda, where Pope Francis delivers an open-air mass on the second leg
   of his African tour.

   The mass is being held at a shrine in Namugongo for dozens of now
   canonized martyrs burned to death by a local king in the late 1800s for
   refusing to renounce their faith.

   Later the pontiff will hold a rally with young people, visit a charity,
   and meet with local religious leaders as he continues the second day of
   his visit to Uganda.

   On Friday, Pope Francis praised Uganda for its "outstanding" response
   in welcoming refugees from other parts of Africa.

   "Here in East Africa, Uganda has shown outstanding concern for
   welcoming refugees, enabling them to rebuild their lives in security
   with a sense of dignity," the pontiff said after flying into the town
   of Entebbe Friday.  "How we deal with them is a test of our humanity."

   The U.N. refugee agency says Uganda hosts more than 500,000 refugees,
   most of whom have fled conflict and violence in the Democratic Republic
   of Congo and South Sudan.

   Pope Francis also said the "world looks to Africa as the continent of
   hope," noting that his three-nation tour is aimed at drawing attention
   to Africa's "achievements and struggles."

   Photo gallery: Pope Francis in Kenya

   ''

   The pontiff flew to Uganda from Kenya, where he urged Kenyan youth to
   avoid tribalism and make the choice to listen and reach out to one
   another.

   He spoke to tens of thousands of young Africans at Kenya's Ksarani
   Stadium Friday, addressing their concerns about violence and corruption
   with a call to them to pray, seek to understand, and cooperate with one
   another, rather than give in to the impulse to commit violence against
   one another.

   He told his audience they have the power to choose: either the path of
   "difficulty and division," or the path of overcoming one's
   self-interest and one's difficulties.

   Pope Francis spoke after a triumphant entrance to the stadium, standing
   and waving in his open-sided white vehicle -- the so-called
   "popemobile," as children and young adults greeted him with signs,
   cheers, and song. Members of the crowd blew horns, sang, and waved
   back, some flapping Kenyan flags in the air.

   One fan carried a sign that read "Keep Calm and Welcome the Pope."
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/pope-holds-mass-in-uganda/3078493.htm
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/pope-holds-mass-in-uganda/3078493.html