Catholic Bishop in Angola Urges Authorities to Heed God’s Voice, Work for the Common Good

Kwito-Bié, 12 November, 2025 / 6:22 PM

Bishop Vicente Sanombo of Angola’s Catholic Diocese of Kwito-Bié has called on government leaders to heed God’s voice and make renewed efforts to improve the living conditions of their citizens.

In his message on the occasion of Angola’s 50th Independence Anniversary marked on November 11, Bishop Sanombo said that the year 2025 represents “a great light of hope” for the people of God in the country.

“The greatness of our nation depends on the ability of its sons and daughters to join hands. This is a time of hope for all Christians,” the Angolan Catholic Bishop said in his message issued on November 11.

He said that the year 2025 which coincides with both Angola’s Golden Jubilee and the ongoing Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year is an opportunity for conversion and renewal.

“We Catholics celebrate and live the Jubilee. It should be a time to deepen our trust in God despite difficulties. Our authorities, too, need hope and must learn to listen to the voice of God, which manifests itself in many ways,” the Catholic Church leader said.

He emphasized that leaders have a duty to act within their means to better people’s lives, saying, “There are limitations, of course, but each person must strive to correct what can be corrected.”

Bishop Sanombo lamented the worsening social and economic conditions in Angola, noting widespread poverty, hunger, and inadequate healthcare. 

“We are a people who are ill,” he said, adding, “Patients are treated only because nurses have compassion. Hunger and misery are real throughout our land, yet this must not lead us to despair — it should awaken greater compassion and solidarity.”

Bishop Sanombo warned against indifference to suffering, saying the nation’s challenges “demand a firm, courageous, and responsible response from everyone.” 

Hunger, poverty, and poor medical care, he said, are “open wounds that call us to conversion and action.”

Calling for unity and fraternal charity, Bishop Sanombo urged Angolans to make solidarity the foundation of national renewal. 

“At the heart of our efforts must always be the brother or sister who cries out for help. Angola will only be great if its sons and daughters work together for a better future,” he said.

Bishop Sanombo called for perseverance and faith, saying, “Hope is the engine that moves the Christian, and God never abandons those who trust in Him. May this Jubilee Year inspire us to grow in faith, solidarity, and human dignity.”