Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe Catholic Bishops Warn of “crisis of hope”, Call for National Reconciliation

Luanda, 24 September, 2025 / 6:59 PM

Members of the Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST) have warned of a growing “crisis of hope” marked by frustration, insecurity, inequality, and poverty, urging leaders to pursue dialogue, reconciliation, social justice, and attentiveness to the people.

In a communique at the end of their September 17-22 CEAST Second Annual Plenary Assembly, the Catholic Bishops noted that the “lack of prospects for youth, hunger, unemployment, and fear of the future are corroding the soul of the Angolan people.”

In the communique that CEAST Spokesperson, Bishop Belmiro Cuica Chissengueti of the Catholic Diocese of Cabinda, presented to journalists on September 22, the Catholic Bishops denounced the “instrumentalization of poverty” and criticized the “manipulation of consciences through ineffective public policies and programs that fail to resolve the structural problems of the people.” 

They further noted that the youth, in particular, face abandonment, with opportunities concentrated in the hands of a small group, while the majority is excluded.

CEAST members expressed concern about the “erosion of the family fabric,” aggravated by the “absence of effective family-support policies and the weakening of the moral and spiritual education of the youth.”

“Without stable families, there is no future for a nation,” they said.

Among the main challenges highlighted were persistent hunger in several regions, growing inequality in access to healthcare and education, urban and domestic violence, drug trafficking, and the erosion of public ethics. 

CEAST members emphasized that “it is imperative to rebuild trust between the people and state institutions,” calling for policies centered on human dignity and the common good.

They underscored the need for a new political culture based on dialogue and active listening to the population.

CEAST also reaffirmed its commitment to evangelization, the training of pastoral agents, and support for families, youth, and vulnerable communities.

They appealed to the Government to prioritize the fight against hunger and poverty by “creating dynamics of social consultation and honest dialogue with all vital forces of the nation.” 

The Catholic Bishops also called for the effective implementation of the Framework Agreement between the Angolan State and the Holy See, especially in education and healthcare.

The Catholic Bishops urged politicians in the country to make unity in diversity a national priority, saying, “Angola needs true reconciliation, not just formal consensus. The jubilee of 50 years of independence should be a starting point for a new stage of political and social maturity.”

They also encouraged full engagement in the synodal process across Dioceses, in line with the calendar set by the Synod’s General Secretariat, with evaluations at local, national, and continental levels, culminating in the 2028 Ecclesial Assembly at the Vatican. 

Strengthening missionary cooperation with other Portuguese-speaking Episcopal Conferences and creating a network of Catholic higher education institutions were also identified as priorities.

The Catholic Bishops also approved the program document for the second year of the triennium dedicated to ordained ministers and Consecrated Life, under the theme: “Disciples called and instructed by the Lord.” 

CEAST also approved the holding of the National Congress on Reconciliation from October 29–31, 2025, in Luanda, marking the 50th anniversary of independence and the “Jubilee of Hope.”