Acta Francisci Pp. 1309

its strong families, its young and its elderly. I look forward to my meeting

tomorrow with the young, for whom I will have words of encouragement

and challenge. How important it is that they be given hope, opportunities

for education and gainful employment, and above all the opportunity to

share fully in the life of society. But I also wish to mention the blessing

which you have in the elderly. They are the living memory of every people.

Their wisdom and experience should always be valued as a compass which

can enable society to find the right direction in confronting the challenges

of the present with integrity, wisdom and vision.

Here in East Africa, Uganda has shown outstanding concern for welcom-

ing refugees, enabling them to rebuild their lives in security and to sense

the dignity which comes from earning one's livelihood through honest labour.

Our world, caught up in wars, violence, and various forms of injustice, is

witnessing an unprecedented movement of peoples. How we deal with them

is a test of our humanity, our respect for human dignity, and above all our

solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need.

Although my visit is brief, I hope to encourage the many quiet efforts

being made to care for the poor, the sick and those in any kind of trou-

ble. It is in these small signs that we see the true soul of a people. In

so many ways, our world is growing closer; yet at the same time we see

with concern the globalization of a "throwaway culture" which blinds us

to spiritual values, hardens our hearts before the needs of the poor, and

robs our young of hope.

As I look forward to meeting you and spending this time with you, I

pray that you, and all the beloved Ugandan people, will always prove worthy

of the values which have shaped the soul of your nation. Upon all of you

I invoke the Lord's richest blessings.

Mungu awabariki!

God bless you!