“I am here to serve the Church”: New Apostolic Nuncio on Mission to Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe

He expressed his gratitude for the presence of Bishops, Priests, Religious Men and Women, and the Laity, saying, “Thank you for being here. You are now in my prayer agenda, and so is our Angola.”

In his welcome address to the new Apostolic Nuncio, the Local Ordinary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda, Archbishop Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias highlighted the Angolan Church's tradition of recognizing the Nuncio as the presence of Christ. 

Archbishop Dias referred to a “small reflection” on the Nunciature's history in the country, noting that the year 2025 will mark 50 years since the first representative of the Holy Father arrived in Angola.

“Your Excellency, you are a very esteemed person, very listened to and loved,” Archbishop Dias said, and added, “We are here to embark on the journey of the Church, the journey of faith, the journey of a Church that is the light of salt in this land of Angola. Welcome to your home.”

Born in Nowa Sarzyna in the Polish Diocese of Przemyśl in November 1973, the Apostolic who served as Councilor of the Apostolic Nunciature was ordained a Priest in May 1998 after completing his priestly formation.

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The graduate in Canon law entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See on 1 July 2004 and worked for the Pontifical Representations in Rwanda, Belarus, Colombia, the Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Archbishop Dubiel who can speak French, Italian, Russian, and Spanish is the ninth papal Nuncio of the nunciature that was established in February 1975.

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.