Luanda: The president of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and So Tom© (CEAST), Archbishop Manuel Imbamba, conveyed that Pope Leo XIV departed from Angola feeling 'very satisfied' with the country's vibrant faith community and the active participation of youth within the Catholic Church. This announcement was made after Archbishop Imbamba attended a meeting between President Joo Louren§o and the Apostolic Nuncio in Angola and So Tom© and Prncipe, Monsignor Kryspin Dubiel, who delivered a message of gratitude from Pope Leo XIV for the hospitality and organization of the apostolic visit in April of this year.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Archbishop Imbamba highlighted that the Pope's message to President Louren§o serves as an acknowledgment of the successful execution of the apostolic visit. He underscored that the letter from the Holy Father also acknowledges the Catholic Church's dedication in arranging the visit.
The archbishop remarked on the significance of the visit, describing it as a historic and unique ecclesial moment for Angola. Bishop Manuel Imbamba noted that during his stay, the Pope was particularly struck by the vitality of the Angolan Church and the enthusiastic involvement of young people in religious celebrations and pastoral activities.
Archbishop Imbamba shared that this positive feedback from the Holy Father serves as motivation for the Church to continue focusing on young people, children, and the most vulnerable groups, as part of their mission to spread the Christian message.
He emphasized the importance of offering the joy of Jesus Christ to these groups, highlighting the Christian message as the way, the truth, and the life. Dom Manuel Imbamba also reflected on the symbolic timing of delivering the Pope's message to the Head of State, coinciding with the three-month anniversary of the conclusion of the apostolic visit on April 21.
Pope Leo XIV's trip to Angola, from April 18 to 21, was marked by calls for peace, national reconciliation, and social justice, reinforcing Angola's role as a promoter of dialogue and stability in Africa. This visit was part of the Pope's first trip to the African continent since the start of his pontificate and marked the third papal visit to Angola, following Saint John Paul II in 1992 and Benedict XVI in 2009, under the theme "Pilgrim of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace."
During his time in Angola, Pope Leo XIV met with President Joo Louren§o, Angolan authorities, diplomats, and civil society representatives. His itinerary included religious celebrations in Luanda, a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Muxima, and a visit to Saurimo in the province of Lunda-Sul, where he presided over a Eucharist attended by thousands and visited an institution for the elderly.
