He “loved without reservation”: Pioneer Bishop of Bissau-Guinean Diocese Remembered as Model of Servant Leadership

Bissau, 29 January, 2026 / 8:56 PM

Bishop Settimio Arturo Ferrazzetta, the pioneer Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bissau in Guinea-Bissau, has been remembered as a model of pastoral leadership rooted in service, proximity to the people, and fidelity to the Gospel.

In his homily during Holy Mass marking the 27th Anniversary of Bishop Settimio Arturo Ferrazzetta Interdiocesan Major Seminary in the Bissau-Guinean Episcopal See, the Local Ordinary of Bafatá Diocese described Bishop Ferrazzetta as a pastor who “lived with simplicity, courage and fidelity to the Gospel.”

“The true pastor does not flee from difficulties, does not place himself above the people, but walks with them, shares their joys and sufferings, and gives his life with discretion and firmness,” Bishop Víctor Luís Quematcha said during the January 27 Eucharistic celebration that also marked the 27th anniversary of Bishop Ferrazzetta’s demise. 

He recalled that Bishop Ferrazzetta was a Bishop who “loved his people without reservation and profoundly marked the history of our country and the local Church.”

The Bissau-Guinean member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap.) said the life and ministry of Bishop Ferrazzetta remain a constant call to Seminarians, describing him as “a living example of a Priesthood rooted in service, coherence, and closeness.”

Born in December 1924 in Selva di Progno, in the province of Verona, Italy, Bishop Ferrazzetta was ordained a Priest in July 1951.

The OFM member was appointed the first Bishop of the Diocese of Bissau in March 1977. 

He died in January 1999, in Guinea-Bissau, leaving a lasting legacy in the organization of the local Church and in Priestly formation.

In his January 27 homily, Bishop Quematcha noted that the celebration was taking place amid social fragility, political instability, poverty, violence, divisions, and mistrust. 

He observed that many people feel “tired, wounded and sometimes without clear horizons,” but emphasized that “it is precisely in this context that God continues to call, to trust and to send.”

The Catholic Church leader emphasized that the seminary is not separated from the life of the people but is “the place where one learns to love these people, to carry their pains and wounds, and to serve with humility and perseverance.” 

Forming Priests today, he said, means preparing pastors who are close to the people, capable of listening, accompanying, and proclaiming the Gospel as a source of meaning, reconciliation, and hope.

The Local Ordinary of Bafatá, since his Episcopal Ordination on 28 June 2025, also challenged the Church to reflect on the question, “What kind of Church do we want to be and build in Guinea-Bissau?” 

He called for a Church that is close to the people, attentive to the wounds of society, committed to peace, truth, and fraternity, and free from the pursuit of power or personal interests.

The Catholic Church leader urged future Priests to be “servants of faith, servants of hope and servants of charity,” helping the people to live their faith amid difficulties, to persevere in hope in times of instability, and to practice charity as a daily way of life.

Bishop Quematcha encouraged Seminarians, saying that “the Church believes in you and walks with you,” and called for the formation of Priests who are “bridges and not walls,” signs of reconciliation and peace, and credible witnesses of the Gospel.