Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has paid a heartfelt tribute to Pope Francis, crediting him for a miracle that changed his life, the birth of his child after nearly a decade of waiting.
In an emotional message shared on X (formerly Twitter), Tayebwa revealed how Pope Francis once offered him a special prayer during a visit to the Vatican, which he believes led to the birth of his child after nine years of childless marriage.
“Rest with the angels, Holy Father @Pontifex. I will always cherish the miracles you brought into my life from the first time you gave me a special prayer at the Vatican,” Tayebwa said.
According to the Deputy Speaker, during one of his private meetings with Pope Francis, the Holy Father asked what he wanted him to pray for. Tayebwa requested a child, and the Pope offered a special prayer for that intention.
“Pope Francis gave me a special prayer for me to get a child after spending nine years in marriage without one,” Tayebwa revealed.
Shortly after returning to Uganda, Tayebwa and his wife conceived. The couple later contacted the Vatican through a number they had been given, to share the joyous news of their child’s birth.
Years later, Tayebwa, together with his wife and their child, returned to Rome to present what he calls the “gift of God” to Pope Francis, who joyfully received and blessed them.
“I’m glad God gave me a chance to confess to you on several occasions. Your love for the underprivileged and peace for the world will always define your Papacy. May you intercede for us before our Father in Heaven,” he said.
Tayebwa also used the moment to highlight Pope Francis’s compassion, particularly towards the marginalized.
“I found Pope Francis to be humble, unifying, and an advocate for the unborn babies,” he said.
He further acknowledged the longstanding spiritual bond between Uganda and the Vatican. “The Uganda martyrs are a serious bridge between Uganda and the Vatican,” he said.
Tayebwa is among the few Ugandans who have had the rare opportunity to meet Pope Francis on multiple occasions and hold private conversations with him.
His testimony now stands as a powerful story of faith, answered prayers, and the quiet miracles that define the legacy of Pope Francis.
