Making reference to Pope Francis’ tribute to the late Cardinal, Bishop Francisco said, “The Holy Father reminds us that Cardinal Dal Corso was a witness of Christ’s love for the most fragile, carrying an evangelical heart and allowing himself to be guided to where he was most needed—among the poor, forgotten, and overlooked.”
“This is not just an account of a life but a celebration of living testimony. Dom Eugênio was a pastor, catechist, missionary, teacher, and builder of a living Church rooted in closeness to the people. He sowed the word in the hearts of young seminarians,” Bishop Francisco said during the Thursday, October 24 Eucharistic celebration that was held at Our Lady of Fatima Parish of Luanda Archdiocese.
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 his October 24 homily, Bishop Francis said the late Cardinal, “remained a zealous missionary, celebrating life, sacraments, and the living presence of Christ among the people. He once said that receiving the cardinalate changed nothing, as he had done nothing extraordinary and chose instead to continue his ministry in simplicity.”
“This quiet dedication lived in the depth of service, defines saints like him. Despite life’s challenges, he maintained a vigilant awareness that saints, too, can be deceived,” he said,
Bishop Francisco went on to highlight the Cardinal’s humility, recalling how he would sit among children in Menongue to teach catechism when no catechist was available or walk kilometers to visit the sick, baptize infants, bless marriages, and live the Church’s mission in people’s daily lives.
“Today, while united with Italy, we bid farewell to this great missionary,” he said in his October 24 homily, the same day the Cardinal was laid to rest in Verona, Italy.
Bishop Francisco said, “All who see the Son and believe in Him will have eternal life, and I will raise them on the last day. This is the hope that drives us, the certainty that guides our steps. We know that Cardinal Eugênio, who gave himself entirely to the Lord’s vineyard, now rests in the arms of the Father, embraced by the Mother of God, to whom he entrusted his mission.”
João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.
