Pope Francis has lauded the government of Uganda for having open policies on hosting migrants and refugees from across the world.

While meeting the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace in Rome, Italy, on Monday, July 24th, the World’s Catholic leader expressed gratitude for Uganda’s welcoming reception of many refugees from numerous nations.

Matteo Bruni, the Director of the Holy See Press Office at the Vatican, said during the meeting that lasted 25 minutes, he saw the Pope and the prime minister discussing various issues.

“Among the topics covered during the conversation, the Pope was touched by the welcome generously extended by the Ugandan government to migrants and refugees, not only from the African region but as far as Central Asian countries,” said Bruni.

Pope Francis and Rt.Hon. Nabbanja also engaged in the customary exchange of gifts, which saw the Pope gift PM Nabbanja with a bronze statue representing a dove carrying an olive branch in its beak.

The statue bears the inscription, “Be messengers of peace”.

The Pope further offered Nabbanja copies of several papal documents, including the Pope’s message for this year’s World Day of Peace, the Document on Human Fraternity, and a book on the Station Orbis on March 27, 2020, published by the Vatican’s Publishing House.

According to UNHCR, Uganda is currently hosting around 1.5 million refugees and asylum seekers, mostly from South Sudan, the DRC, and Burundi, among others.