Arua Diocese

His Eminence Cardinal-elect Fr. Fabio Baggio Calls for Dialogue, preparedness Collaboration, and Unity Among Catholic Actors, NGOs, and Interfaith Communities to Address Refugee Crisis.

Arua Diocese - In an appeal for unified action, His Eminence Cardinal-elect Fr. Fabio Baggio, Undersecretary for the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Vatican, has called upon Catholic actors, NGOs, and interfaith communities to strengthen dialogue, collaboration, and togetherness in addressing the growing refugee crisis in the region.

His message follows his recent visit to Nyumanzi Refugee Settlement, accompanied by Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, His Excellency Archbishop Luigi Bianco. The occasion was marked by a Holy Eucharistic celebration, led by Archbishop Bianco, bringing together members of the Church and the refugee community for a memorable time of prayer.

During the homily, Cardinal-elect Fr. Fabio described the refugee crisis as a global challenge and not merely a local issue. He warned of projections showing an increase in displaced populations in the coming years, urging the Church to be prepared for the needs of those seeking refuge and support. The Cardinal-elect emphasized that aid for refugees should not be seen simply as an act of generosity but as a response rooted in faith, with the understanding that it is Christ Himself who calls us to serve those in need.

He stressed the importance of collaboration among Catholic entities, recognizing that, at times, there is a lack of information-sharing and even competition among different communities. "Let us work together to be the right witnesses of Christ to the people in need of our help," he urged.

Cardinal-elect Fr. Fabio also called for interfaith dialogue to strengthen support for refugees and encouraged collaboration with NGOs. He noted that the Church should be discerning and understanding where partnerships align with its mission and respectfully declining where objectives are unclear.
He urged the Diocese of Arua to continue sharing updates on the refugee situation with the Holy See to ensure refugee support and intervention in Uganda.

Bishop Sabino encouraged the refugees to be grateful for God's love, manifested through the visit of Vatican representatives. He noted that the presence of these visitors from Rome is a testament to God's love for His people, echoing the theme of the event, "God walks with His people."
He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for his guidance, which has empowered the Church to support the marginalized, especially refugees, by facilitating their integration into local communities and fostering both their spiritual and human growth.