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Angola, São Tomé and Principe Bishops’ Triduum Prayer for Peace in Mozambique Concludes with Call to End Violence

João Vissesse

By João Vissesse

Luanda, 05 January, 2025 / 10:55 pm (ACI Africa).

The Triduum Prayer initiative of the members of the Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST) for the people of God in Mozambique amid post-election violent conflicts has concluded with a call to end violence in the Southern African nation.

In his homily during the “Vigil for Peace” that concluded the three-day spiritual initiative, the Executive Secretary of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST) highlighted the far-reaching consequences of violence in Mozambique and across the globe.

“We pray for Mozambique caught in a spiral of violence. Violence breeds more violence, causing suffering, anguish, and forced migration. Violence is not the remedy for our fractured world,” Fr. Celestino Epalanga said during the January 3 Eucharistic celebration that was held at Our Lady of Fatima Parish of the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda.

He added, “Responding to violence with violence leads to displacement, as seen with Mozambican refugees seeking safety in neighboring countries.”

Fr. Epalanga invited Angolans to reflect on the plight of Mozambique’s most vulnerable, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly. 

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“Jesus lived in violent times and taught that the true battlefield is the human heart, from which evil and peace arise. The response Jesus offers is radical and positive. He preached God’s unconditional love and followed the path of non-violence to the cross, bringing peace and destroying hostility,” the Angolan member of the Society of Jesus (SJ/Jesuits) further said.

He continued, “Peace is God’s dream for humanity. Those who accept the Gospel recognize violence within themselves, seek God’s mercy, and become instruments of reconciliation.”

Fr. Epalanga noted that non-violence is a choice worth making and that it not a sign of weakness or passivity.

“It is a powerful tool to build peace and dismantle hatred. Non-violence, when practiced consistently, has achieved remarkable outcomes,” the Angolan Jesuit said.

He highlighted the value of prayer in seeking peace in Mozambique, saying, “Prayer is powerful. The Church is committed to non-violent strategies for peace in many nations. This mission belongs not only to the Catholic Church but to all faith traditions that value compassion and non-violence.”

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“May God, the Prince of Peace, grant peace to our brothers and sisters in Mozambique,” Fr. Epalanga implored.

The January 1-3 spiritual initiative, which CCJP of CEAST organized that culminated in the “Vigil for Peace” was part of the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee Year, which Pope Francis officially launched on Christmas Eve by opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The three-day spiritual exercises were held in all Catholic Parishes across Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Participants at the event in Luanda brought candles, lighting them from the altar’s flame as a symbolic offering of peace. The candles were placed in the church courtyard, where an improvised outdoor altar was prepared for the vigil’s Eucharistic celebration.

In his remarks during the vigil, Bishop António Lungieki Pedro Bengui underscored the need for personal responsibility in the quest for lasting peace. 

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“We know the responsibility of each one of us in the construction of permanent peace,” Bishop Lungieki said.

Referring to the Holy Father’s message for the 2025 World Day of Peace, the Auxiliary Bishop of Luanda Archdiocese said that Pope Francis “invited us to recognize our sins and seek mechanisms of repentance and peace. Let us acknowledge our wrongs and commit ourselves to building peace.”

Bishop Lungieki called for active love towards the people of God in Mozambique, saying, “We are called to do more than listen to tragic news. We must reflect, work, and act.”

“Let us pray that God may bless us all, particularly our Mozambican brothers and sisters, who suffer as peace remains fragile,” he implored.

João Vissesse

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