Saurimo, 06 August, 2025 / 4:39 PM
Members of the Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST) have welcomed the election of Archbishop José Manuel Imbamba as Second Vice President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).
On August 2, SECAM members elected leaders to head the continental Symposium for the next three years during their 20th Plenary Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda.
Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo was re-elected President with Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Yola, and Archbishop Imbamba of the Catholic Archdiocese of Saurimo in Angola as First and Second Vice Presidents, respectively.
Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior, a member of the Clergy of Mozambique’s Xai-Xai Catholic Diocese, was also re-elected Secretary General (SG), to be deputized by Fr. Zéphirin Moube from Cameroon as First Deputy SG and Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina from Nigeria as Second Deputy SG.
In an audio message circulated on August 2, the CEAST spokesperson said the election of Archbishop Imbamba “underscores the active role of the Angolan Church in continental ecclesial affairs.”
“The election of Archbishop Imbamba as SECAM’s Second Vice President is a source of pride and hope for all members of CEAST,” Bishop Belmiro Cuica Chissengueti of the Catholic Diocese of Cabinda said.
Bishop Chissengueti further said, “The President of CEAST is a recognized pastoral figure in the Angolan episcopate known for his leadership and social and pastoral commitment.”
“He is the second Angolan Bishop to hold a leadership position in SECAM, following Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi, who served as president of the body for six years from 2013 to 2019, fulfilling two three-year terms,” he recalled.
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