Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Luanda (Agenzia Fides)- Cardinal Ivan Dias prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples Dias, will open tomorrow 20 July in Luanda, an assembly of the Inter-Regional Association of Catholic Bishops of Southern Africa IMBISA. Cardinal Dias is in Angola for a pastoral visit of 13 days (see Fides 9 July and 16 July 2007). The IMBISA assembly will continue until 27 July. IMBISA members are the Catholic Bishops of Angola and Sao Tome, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. IMBISA has its offices in Harare, Zimbabwe.
According to the Archbishop of Luanda, Archbishop Damiao Franklin, the central question at the assembly will be “good governance”. Good governance for the Church and for the civil institutions, the Archbishop explained. At a media conference Archbishop Franklin said the meeting was an opportunity to “manifest catholicity, discuss common problems, exchange experiences and bring the light of the Gospel to the societies of the region”.
The Archbishop of Luanda said the Bishops would like to see the peoples of their countries benefit from the present economic growth in the region, more in detail, with access to education, efficient medical services and adequate housing.
The collaboration offered by the local Catholic Church to promote the human and civil development of Angola was underlined by Cardinal Dias when he met the local authorities in Lubango. The prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples brought with him a message from Pope Benedict XVI of solidarity with the people of Angola still suffering the consequences of 25 years of fierce civil war which ended in 2002. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/7/2007 righe 26 parole 282)
