Luanda - Pope Francis has expressed his cordial solidarity with the Angolan authorities over the death of the former President of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos, which occurred last Friday (08/07), in Barcelona (Spain), due to an illness.
José Eduardo dos Santos, who died aged 79, served as President of the Republic for 38 years, until September 2017, when he was succeeded by the current Head of State, João Lourenço.
The Holy Father expresses his solidarity and remembers the statesman who worked hard to build the motherland.
In his message to President Lourenço, the leader of the Catholic Church asks for consolation for those who mourn the passing of Dos Santos and tireless courage for all those who work for the unity and progress of the nation.
The President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou N'guesso, considers José Eduardo dos Santos a pillar of international political life, namely on the African continent, particularly in the sub-region of Southern Africa.
He highlights the commitment of this leader to the consolidation of peace, stability and national harmony.
He recalled the close and fraternal ties with José Eduardo dos Santos, "whose action is admirably intertwined with Angola's contemporary history".
The Russian ambassador in Angola, Vladimir Tararov, sent a message highlighting the former president's achievements and expressing sorrow for the "great loss.
Angola's ambassador in Portugal, Carlos Alberto Fonseca, who signed the condolence book opened at the diplomatic mission in Lisbon, spoke of the leader as an unrelenting patriot, a distinguished diplomat and a profound humanist dedicated to the cause of the people.
He recalls that in the most difficult and troubled moments of the country's history, the former President knew how to preserve and affirm national sovereignty in the concert of Nations.
Angola's ambassador in the Federal Republic of Brazil, Florêncio de Almeida, talks about Dos Santos' participation in the fight against colonialism, the conquest of independence, the consolidation of peace, the country's affirmation in the context of nations, the establishment of multi-party democracy, reconciliation and national unity, as well as in reconstruction and in economic and social development.
