Luanda – Pope Francis said that faith in Christ and hope in eternal life made Cardinal Alexandre do Nascimento a courageous, free man capable of guiding his steps towards the common good.
The first and only Cardinal of Angola and the first of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé passed away on the 28th of this month, in Luanda, a victim of illness, at the age of 99.
The leader of the Catholic Church addressed a note of condolences to the Archbishop of Luanda, Dom Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias, extended to the Assistant Bishops, clergy, religious communities and all the faithful of that archdiocese.
In the document, Pope Francis said he received the news of the Cardinal's death with regret, wishing to those who are saddened in Angola with this death, the communion of prayer so that no one lacks the comfort of the resurrection.
He recalled the care given by Cardinal Nascimento to his “flock”, in troubled and difficult times, “having been for everyone the expression of the merciful face of Jesus, good Samaritan of humanity”.
He reiterated that the prelate collaborated with this Apostolic See in his zeal for the poorest and most needy, by guiding the direction of Cáritas Internacional.
“For all that the Lord has accomplished in him and through him, I thank God, begging him to envelop this faithful servant of his with the light of mercy and open to him the doors of life in fullness, at the same time that I grant from my heart, to everyone who participate in the obsequies, my blessing”, he said in the document.
Cardinal Alexandre do Nascimento remains will be buried on October 8th, in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Luanda.
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