Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Luanda (Agenzia Fides)- “Cardinal Dias' visit to Angola was closely covered by the local press and television: this showed how in Angola the Church is close to the people” a local Church source told Fides from Luanda at the end of a pastoral visit by His Eminence Cardinal Ivan Dias Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (see Fides 9, 16 and 19 July 2007).
“His Eminence's visit was important for the local Church, which through Cardinal Dias renewed its profound spiritual communion with the Pope” the sources told Fides. “The meetings which the Cardinal had with Angola's President José Eduardo dos Santos, Prime Minister Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, and other important personalities, demonstrated the good relations which exist between the state and the Catholic Church in Angola”.
In his address to open the 8th IMBISA Assembly (see Fides 19 July 2007) the Cardinal said State/Church collaboration to eradicate poverty was most important: “Good collaboration between Church and state with respect for each one's competence and mission in the interest of humanity is indispensable for promoting the integral common good and harmony in society”.
“Every man and woman has the right and the duty to promote authentic human development of society and the world in which we live” the Cardinal said. Good governance as a means to improve the conditions of the peoples of southern Africa was the main topic of the IMBISA Assembly.
On Sunday 22 July Cardinal Dias took part in celebrations at the Nunciature in Luanda for the Pope's Day. The Nuncio Archbishop Angelo Becciu explained “Today we celebrate the Pope's Day, which would actually be on the 19th April the day of his election or 24th April when began his ministry as universal Shepherd or on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul in June 29th. We decided to hold this celebration in the presence of Cardinal Ivan Dias Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples".
The Nuncio also recalled to excellent relations between the State and the Catholic Church in Angola and the need to guarantee development for all Angolans: “The country's economy is growing fast as everyone can see. We congratulate the government on the efforts made to regulate this growth but we would ask them one thing, something which the Catholic Bishops of Angola said in a pastoral letter issued in March: make haste! Hurry so that many more people, especially the poorest ones, may soon enjoy a more dignified life. This request comes from the hearts of the bishops and priests who live in direct contact with the people and see their struggle to survive”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 24/7/2007 righe 46 parole 578)
