According to the Archbishop, the Cardinal was a theologian who always “affirmed the centrality of Christ in the life of every person, in society, in culture, and in all those who, in one way or another, contribute to the transformation of society.”
Archbishop Imbamba lamented that with the Cardinal’s death, the Church is Angola has been left with very few elders who have been a source of inspiration to the people.
“It is a wave of deaths of our elders, and it is leaving us without those elders who, from time to time, pull our ears, guide us, and inspire us. But our faith will keep us firm, as we continue to follow in their footsteps with obedience and fidelity to Jesus Christ, always available to serve our brothers for salvation,” the Archbishop said.
Cardinal Dal Corso is to be buried on Thursday, October 24, in Verona, Italy.
Archbishop Imbamba said that back at home in Angola, the Church will organize a celebration at the time of the funeral in Italy.
He said that through the celebration of the life of Cardinal Dal Corso, the Church in Angola will unite “with the brothers in Italy who will be mourning our brother’s soul.”
“It won’t be possible for all of us to be there, but we will have a national celebration to pay homage to this brother of ours,” Archbishop Imbamba said.
Born in May 1939 in Grezzana, Italy, Cardinal Dal Corso was ordained a Priest in July 1963 and joined the Congregation of the Poor Servants of Divine Providence (P.S.D.P).
He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Saurimo in December 1995 and succeeded the Local Ordinary of Saurimo, Pedro Marcos Ribeiro da Costa in March 1996. He was later transferred to the Catholic Diocese of Benguela in February 2008 where he retired in March 20219. The Bishop Emeritus of Benguela was named Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019.
In the October 21 statement, Archbishop Imbamba says the late Cardinal left a mark as someone deeply focused on rural pastoral work, dedicated to social causes, and concerned about poverty and illiteracy in the diocese, establishing many projects that bore fruit in our midst.
