Luanda (Fides Service) - "Today more then ever there is need to form future priests…They shall be formed in such a manner that they will have the qualities of representatives of Christ, true servants and animators of the Christian communities". Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe quoted these words from the Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa (95) when he met seminarians and teaching staff at Sacred Heart of Jesus seminary in Luanda, Angola yesterday, October 28 the last day of his pastoral visit to that country. "To acquire affective maturity, understand and be convinced of the inseparability of priestly celibacy and chastity are particularly important recommendations that in his post synodal exhortation the Holy Father gave to all the local Churches of Africa, with regard to the formation of its priests" the Cardinal added.
On the same day Cardinal Sepe met with the clergy and religious men and women of Luanda diocese. In his address to them he stressed the need to resume in-depth evangelisation, not only in Luanda, but throughout Angola. "We cannot be indifferent to the spread and proselytism of religious sects, particularly in large cities. This mission falls especially to you priests and religious men and women." See complete text in Portuguese at www.fides.org. MR (Fides Service 29/10/2002)