‘There is still a long way to go’ says Angolan bishop ahead of Pope Leo’s visit

AS Angola prepares to welcome the Pope, a bishop has warned that true peace will not come from the end of war alone, as the country must also heal deep wounds left by decades of suffering. 

Pope Leo is due to visit Angola tomorrow (Saturday, 18th April), as part of a trip to Africa including Algeria, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea – coinciding with the 450th anniversary of the founding of the capital city Luanda.

The Sub-Saharan nation is still recovering from a long period of civil war which began following its independence from Portugal in 1975.

Even though the fighting stopped 24 years ago, the nation is still plagued by division and extreme poverty, despite immense natural resources.

Bishop António Jaca of Benguela, told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the need for peace went beyond violent conflict.

He added: “Those were long years of suffering. But peace is also about development and social harmony, so there is still a long way to go.

“There is no peace in society without peace among families, and for that families must have enough to get by.”

The bishop said that the current economic situation in Angola was “still very, very difficult” adding: “We have high levels of unemployment and criminality, which is no doubt a consequence of unemployment and an idle youth. 

“Most families survive on fragile income and informal trade.”

Archbishop Filomeno Nascimento of Luanda told ACN the Pope’s visit will resonate in a special way with the young, who represent 60 percent of the country.

With a message aimed at the country’s young people he said: “The Pope is visiting Angola at a time when you are young, full of energy, dreams and enthusiasm. 

“Embrace the Holy Father and welcome him with the energy that is proper of your age. Show him how strong, beautiful and full of dreams the Angolan youth is. 

“Show him how faith moulds and animates your lives, how it helps you to swim against the tide, against the life’s challenges and to believe that with effort, discipline and sacrifice you can build a different future.”

The archbishop also challenged young people to accompany the Pope to the Marian shrine of Muxima. 

He added: “We’ll drive, get taxis, take motorcycles, walk or even run to Muxima. Let us go there and say: ‘welcome Pope Leo’.”

Bishop António Jaca also highlighted the current vitality of the Angolan Church, using his own diocese of Benguela as an example. “This year we have 515 seminarians in our three seminaries, as well as in other seminaries in Angola, and a large number of vocations in the religious institutes.”

He said many of the students benefit from ACN’s help. He added: “Thank you so much to ACN for all the support and help it provides and has provided to the Church in Angola for so many years, be it to the seminaries or formation houses, but in general to everything that is related to evangelisation. 

“Thank you to all, and God bless you.”

With thanks to Paulo Aido