Ahead of São Tomé e Príncipe at 50, Catholic Bishop Recalls Values Personalities Behind Independence Espoused

São Tomé, 11 July, 2025 / 9:25 PM

As São Tomé e Príncipe prepares to celebrate 50 years of independence on July 12, Bishop João de Ceita Nazaré of the Catholic Diocese of São Tomé e Príncipe has recalled the values that personalities behind the country’s independence espoused.

In a video message published on Wednesday, July 9, Bishop Nazaré urges citizens of the country to emulate the sacrifices of those who made the 12 July 1975 independence possible.

“We remember with deep respect and emotion all those who, with courage, sacrifice, and vision, made the dream of freedom possible,” the Catholic Bishop says.

He reminds the people of São Tomé that “a nation is not built on words or promises alone, but with unity, discipline, and work.”

Bishop Nazaré notes that “unity helps overcome divisions, discipline strengthens institutions, and work gives dignity and sustains true progress.”

“Love, justice, and hope are the values that sustain the heart of a nation,” the 51-year-old Catholic Bishop who started his Episcopal Ministry in March 2024 says.

He advocates for “love for one another, for our land, and our culture; justice that guarantees dignity to every citizen, promotes equity, and combats indifference; and hope that allows us to move forward, even in difficult times, with confidence—because the Lord is with us.”

Bishop Nazaré calls on citizens to be “builders of a better future,” grounded in ethical commitment and service, fostering the common good.

“The freedom won at such a cost requires responsibility. Development demands participation. And the future will only be promising if it is built on truth and solidarity,” he says, and implores, “May this golden jubilee be a time to renew our commitment to the founding values of our nation.”

São Tomé e Príncipe gained independence in July 1975, ending over 500 years of Portuguese colonial rule. The archipelago, discovered by Portuguese navigators around 1470, had long been exploited for sugar and later cocoa production, relying heavily on slave and forced labour.

The Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP) under the leadership of Manuel Pinto da Costa spearheaded the political struggle for independence.

Portugal’s 1974 Carnation Revolution opened the door to decolonization, leading to the official declaration of independence on 12 July 1975. Pinto da Costa became the country’s first president.