Africa-Press – Cape verde. The Government awarded the Medal of Altruistic Merit, 1st Degree, to Dom Arlindo Furtado and Pastor Emanuel David Araújo, two prominent national religious figures, through Decrees No. 15/2026 and 16/2026, dated April 13.
According to the document, the distinctions recognize their paths of service to the faith, the country, social cohesion, and the dignification of Cape Verde.
Dom Arlindo Gomes Furtado, Cardinal of the Catholic Church and Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde, was honored for his exceptional career in service to the Church, the country, and the international projection of Cape Verde.
A native of Figueira das Naus, in the municipality of Santa Catarina, Dom Arlindo distinguished himself through his solid academic training in Theology, with studies in Coimbra and specialization in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Ordained a priest in 1976, he served as Rector of the São José Minor Seminary, a teacher, and a collaborator on projects involving the translation and study of biblical texts.
In 2003, he was appointed the first Bishop of the Diocese of Mindelo and, since 2009, has led the Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde. In 2015, he was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Francis, in a “historic milestone” for the country.
Pastor Emanuel David Simas Araújo was distinguished for his remarkable trajectory in service of faith, social cohesion, and the dignification of the human person in Cape Verde.
A native of Tchanzinha, on the island of São Nicolau, where he was born on February 16, 1962, he revealed from an early age a vocation for religious ministry and a commitment to his neighbor. The beginning of his ministry in São Nicolau occurred under demanding circumstances, marked by a scarcity of resources and pastoral challenges.
For several decades, he served in religious roles on different islands of the archipelago, most notably in Santiago, where he contributed to strengthening communities and providing spiritual guidance to countless families.
Since 1999, as superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene in Cape Verde, he led the expansion and consolidation of the Church’s work, as well as strengthening its social intervention in various communities throughout the country.
According to the Government, both distinctions represent a public and solemn recognition of lives dedicated to spiritual service, the promotion of universal values, and the human and social development of Cape Verde.
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