Mindelo, 26 February, 2025 / 6:45 am (ACI Africa).
Bishop Ildo Augusto dos Santos Lopes Fortes of the Catholic Diocese of Mindelo in Cape Verde has described his 21-day pastoral visit to the three Parishes of São Vicente Island as a memorable time communion and encounter.
In a video recording shared on February 23, Bishop dos Santos recalls with gratitude the visit that took place from January 26 to February 16, which he says provided an opportunity for engagement with the people of God, particularly the vulnerable, in the three Catholic Parishes.
“It has been eight days since we concluded this historic pastoral visit—three intense weeks in which the Parishes of Senhor da Luz, São Vicente, and Santo Antônio experienced the constant presence of their Bishop. I walked among the people, visited the sick and the poor, and celebrated moments of faith together with them,” he says.
Reflecting on his experience, Bishop dos Santos describes the pastoral visit as a true ecclesial moment that strengthened the sense of unity in his Episcopal See.
“It was truly a moment of ecclesial communion. The most important takeaway, and what we emphasized in our press conference last week, is that this visit was deeply meaningful. Not just because of the encounters within our Parish communities but also through the many interactions with institutions and civil society,” he said.