The presidents of the Episcopal Conferences of Portugal and Angola met in Lisbon to underline the vitality of missionary exchange and the richness of the shared spiritual heritage between the two countries. D. José Manuel Imbamba, Archbishop of Saurimo and president of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé, argued that mission work is "a giving and receiving that is mutual," highlighting the reversal of the flow of evangelizers, which now depart from Africa to Europe, in contrast to the past.
D. Virgílio Antunes, Bishop of Coimbra and president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, corroborated the quality of bilateral ties, ensuring that the relations between the two local Churches are "very, very good." The leader also highlighted the "great abundance of vocations" in Angola and their "immense contribution" to Portuguese dioceses and communities.
The statements were made on the sidelines of the presentation of the book "Historic Churches of Luanda and the Sanctuary of Muxima," a work that analyzes Christian presence in Angolan territory since 1575. D. José Manuel Imbamba considered the volume a record of artistic and aesthetic marks that attest to the "maturity" of local believers, while Father Vicente Cacuchi, president of the Association for Culture and Development of Angola, argued that the built heritage should be seen as a "living piece" and not merely a museum object.
