Holiness is “a universal calling”: Angolan Catholic Archbishop on All Saints Solemnity

“To be holy is not to live outside the world. It is to live in the world with the heart of God. The saint transforms time with simple gestures—with tenderness, forgiveness, justice, and love,” Archbishop Dias said.

Calling holiness “the oxygen of the world,” the Catholic Archbishop noted that virtues such as compassion and kindness sustain society. 

“Only a heart at peace can generate justice. Only a humble spirit can transform society,” he said, describing holiness as “the purest expression of human freedom.”

Archbishop Dias said the Beatitudes serve as a roadmap to holiness. 

“To be poor in spirit, merciful, and a peacemaker is not utopia. It is the most human way to live,” he said.

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Archbishop Dias reminded the people of God that, even amid global contradictions, God continues to sow grace and offer humanity opportunities for conversion. 

“There is a silent power that restrains evil—it is the mercy of God. Divine patience is the space where humanity can begin again,” he said.

The Archbishop encouraged Christians to pursue holiness with joy, simplicity, and a reconciled heart. 

Holiness, he said, is “not a burden, but a grace,” allowing believers to rejoice in the good of others and to make their lives “a hymn of praise to God.”

Archbishop Dias described holiness as both mission and witness, saying, “Not much is needed. Sometimes, a smile, a look, a word of encouragement is enough to leaven the world with the grace, goodness, and fraternity that God desires.”