Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Luanda (Agenzia Fides) - “The news of the Holy Father's visit has been received with joy and surprise by the Church and the entire population here,” Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, Apostolic Nuncio of Angola, told Agenzia Fides. “The country is now living in hope, awaiting the Pope's visit,” the Nuncio said. “The visit of Benedict XVI marks an important place on the path of consolidation and evangelization and is an inspiration for all Catholics to strengthen their missionary commitment. The Pope will come to bless the process of consolidation of peace that began in 2002 and the economic progress seen in recent years, whose benefits should, however, be extended to the entire population, especially to the poorest areas, in order to promote a just and fair development in the country.”
The news of the Pope's upcoming visit to Angola has been enthusiastically received by the media in Angola. Cardinal Alexandre do Nascimento, Archbishop Emeritus of Luanda, said in an interview with Radio Ecclesia that Angola was the first sub-Saharan African nation to be evangelized. The first baptism dates back to 1491, one year before the discovery of America, which makes the Angolans very proud.
Angola has a population of over 16 million people, 9 million under the age of 18. There are 8,334,000 Catholics, distributed in 18 dioceses, with 283 parishes. There are 25 Bishops, 410 diocesan priests, 339 religious priests, 157 professed brothers, 2,204 religious sisters, and 26,341 catechists. The Catholic Church runs 71 preschools with 10,527 students; 256 elementary schools with 148,371 students; 126 high schools with 52,366 students. The Catholic University of Luanda, the nation’s capital, is the most prestigious school in the country, even though it only opened its doors 8 years ago. The Catholic Church also runs 18 hospitals, 256 clinics, 3 leper colonies, 11 shelters, 42 orphanages, 25 child care centers, and 4 family counseling offices (information gathered from the most recent Statistical Annuary of the Church). (LM) (Agenzia Fides 28/10/2008)
