VATICAN CITY | In a rare moment of civility amid diplomatic tensions, former United States President Joe Biden and Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament Anita Among were seen warmly greeting each other at the Vatican.
Both leaders had gathered to attend the funeral rites for Pope Francis, an event that drew mourners and dignitaries from around the world.
Photographs captured the two smiling under the bright Vatican sun, a surprising image considering the frosty relations between Washington and Kampala. Last year, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on Ms Among, freezing her assets and banning her from traveling to the US over allegations of corruption linked to Uganda’s Parliament.
Yet at St Peter’s Square, politics took a backseat. Clad in a black dress and fascinator, Speaker Among exchanged pleasantries with President Biden before the solemn service began.
Behind them, rows of red velvet chairs awaited other world leaders, adding a formal air to an otherwise personal interaction.
Another striking image showed President Biden posing for a selfie with Uganda’s Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa. The photo hinted at a more relaxed, personal atmosphere amidst the grandeur of one of Catholicism’s most sacred spaces.
The US sanctions against Ms Among, also mirrored by the UK government, were linked to the high-profile scandal involving the diversion of iron sheets meant for vulnerable communities in Uganda’s Karamoja region.
Despite these accusations, Ms Among has consistently denied any wrongdoing, blaming the sanctions on her vocal support for Uganda’s controversial anti-homosexuality law.
Despite the political backdrop, the Vatican encounter highlighted a more personal connection. Both Biden and Among are devout Catholics, often citing their faith in public life. Biden, the second Catholic president in US history after John F. Kennedy, has met Pope Francis on previous occasions.
Similarly, Among frequently speaks of her Catholic upbringing and has made pilgrimages to Rome, including seeking papal blessings for her twin children.
Observers noted that while the encounter between Biden and Among was brief, its symbolism resonated strongly. It showed that shared faith and collective mourning could, even if momentarily, bridge the deepening diplomatic divide.
Mr Tayebwa’s selfie moment with Biden added a humanizing touch to the proceedings, suggesting Uganda’s continued interest in maintaining dialogue with Washington despite the ongoing tensions.
The funeral of Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church for over a decade, drew an emotional farewell from millions worldwide. For Uganda’s delegation, it was a moment not just of grief, but possibly an opportunity for quiet diplomacy under the gaze of saints and Renaissance splendor.
As Biden and Among stood together in the historic courtyard of St Peter’s Basilica, geopolitics faded, replaced—at least for a moment—by shared faith and humanity.
