Africa-Press – Angola. Angolan president, João Lourenço, emphasised on Saturday in Luanda, the excellent relations between Angola and the Holy See, describing them as historic.
Speaking at the meeting with Pope Leo XIV and representatives of civil society, the Angolan president said the visit, the third visit of a Pope to Angola, reflects the constructive relations the country has maintained with the Holy See for several decades.
João Lourenço underscored that the Pope’s stay in the country reinforces institutional dialogue and the social role of the Catholic Church in society.
The president evoked the historical ties between Angola and the Vatican, recalling that the first official contact dates back to the 16th century, when the emissary of the Kingdom of Kongo, Antonio Manuel Vunda, carried out a diplomatic mission in Rome.
João Lourenço said that diplomatic relations between Angola and the Holy See were formalized in a political context distinct from the current one, having reached an important milestone with the signing, on September 13, 2019, of the Framework Agreement that defines the legal parameters of bilateral cooperation.
The president expressed the Angolan people’s satisfaction with the visit of the Pope.
“Angola welcomes with joy and enthusiasm the presence of Your Holiness. On behalf of myself, my family, and the Angolan people, I extend my welcome,” the president said.
The statesman emphasized the national rejoicing at the Pope’s stay in the country in the coming days, saying that the leader of the Catholic Church will have the opportunity to see the affection and sympathy he enjoys among Catholic, Christian, and Angolan faithful in general.
João Lourenço considered it an honor for Angola to welcome the Supreme Pontiff up close, on a visit he described as historic.
The papal visit, he said, represents another step in strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two parties, with a significant impact in the social, educational, and humanitarian fields in Angola.
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