This year alone, he visited the Central African Republic, issued a major environment document and chaired a contentious meeting of world bishops on family issues. What's next for the Pope?
The pope arrives in the country on Friday. Commentators James Kassaga Arinaitwe and Viviane Rutabingwa give him a crash course in the country's issues.
Fifty years ago, 40 bishops signed a pledge to make Catholicism a church for the poor. It was soon set aside, but with Pope Francis focused on the downtrodden, that notion could be revived.
The pontiff is expected to address issues of religious tolerance, economic inequality and global warming while he travels through Kenya, Uganda and the war-torn Central African Republic.