Cape Verde’s Two Dioceses Chart Way for Future Collaboration at Inaugural Meeting

Mindelo, 01 June, 2024 / 9:01 PM

The Bishops of Cape Verde’s Catholic Dioceses of Santiago and Mindelo who meet at the same Episcopal conference with their peers from Mauritania, Guinea Bissau and Senegal are looking into ways in which they can collaborate to address problems that are specific to their country.

In their inaugural Cape Verdean meeting that was held between May 28-29, Arlindo Cardinal Gomes Furtado of Santiago and Bishop Ildo Fortes of Mindelo agreed on the need to have what they described as “the First National Council of the Bishops of Cape Verde” so as to be meeting as two dioceses.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Local Ordinary of Santiago said the two Dioceses in the country met to discuss their achievements and challenges so that together they could find the best solutions to them.

“We are looking for ways in which collaboration between the two dioceses can bear good fruit, and naturally in a less costly but easier and more efficient way,” Cardinal Furtado Wednesday, May 29.

Bishop Fortes endorsed the need to create the “National Council of Bishops of Cape Verde” to deal with the issues of the two dioceses, saying, “We, the two bishops of Cape Verde, are part of a conference, which I believe has 12 bishops… Since we are dealing with four countries, the bishops of each country should also meet to address more specific questions.”

Bishop Fortes noted that the realities of each of the four countries making up the conference are different, adding, “Realities of Senegal, for instance, are not the same as those of Cape Verde, the language is not the same in both countries. And Senegal is a mostly Muslim country.”

 “There are various issues that we deal with amongst ourselves as a conference. More general issues. Universal issues. And we always draw up a document for the four countries. This year, we came up with a pastoral letter, which will be coming out soon on the laity and their commitment in the Church and in society. But we must also meet at the levels of countries,” he said.

Cardinal Furtado divulged to journalists that the annual meeting of Catholic Bishops in Cape Verde also explored the Church’s relationship with the state as well as ways for the two dioceses to collaborate on formation of seminarians.

The Cape Verdean Cardinal said, “We also dealt with the issue of the assets of the former Diocese of Cape Verde, and agreed that they be transferred to the Diocese of Mindelo.”

The two dioceses also reflected on their journey towards starting the first ever Catholic University of Cape Verde. “It is a demanding, complex experience, but we have a lot of hope for the future, because there is space where we can intervene in a specific way for the enrichment and added value of our Cape Verdean education community,” Cardinal Furtado said.

At the inaugural meeting, the Bishops also explored ways to create meaningful engagement with the country’s Catholic community in the diaspora, especially through pastoral activities.