ANGOLA: Cardinal Parolin Arrives in Country, To Preside over Ordination of First Angolan Apostolic Nuncio

By Arnold Neliba

LUANDA, AUGUST 11, 2023 (CISA)-The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin has arrived in Angola.

The cardinal is expected to preside over the episcopal ordination of Archbishop-elect Germano Penemote on August 12, 2023, the first Angolan to be appointed an Apostolic Nuncio, ahead of his new mission in Pakistan.

The cardinal was received at the International Airport, 4 de Fevereiro Luanda, by Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST), priests, religious, faithful and government representatives.

The episcopal ordination will be held in Ondjiva, in the Catholic Diocese of Ondjiva.

Born in Ondobe on October 24, 1969, the nuncio-elect was ordained priest on December 6, 1998, and incardinated in the diocese of Ondijiva.  During his 24 years as a priest, he entered the Holy See Diplomatic Service on July 1, 2005, and has served in the apostolic nunciatures in Costa Rica, Guinea, Iraq, Austria, Israel and in the apostolic delegation in Jerusalem and Palestine, in the Pontifical Representation in Cyprus.

He speaks French, English, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.

According to the program, Cardinal Parolin will on Sunday pray with the community of the Parish of São Paulo in the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda.