Quincentenary Jubilee of Catholic Church in Cape Verde to Extend to Europe, Cardinal Urges Diaspora to Participate

From May 9-12, Paris is to host a series of Jubilee events aimed at uniting the large Cape Verdean diaspora community spread across Central Europe. 

In the April 11 interview, the Local Ordinary of Santiago said that extending the quincentenary jubilee celebrations to Europe goes beyond faith; it carries a strong message of national identity and unity.

“When we talk about being Church and being a community, we also talk about the awareness of being a people, of being Cape Verde. These events benefit both our spiritual life and our sense of national identity,” Cardinal Furtado said.

Additional jubilee activities to engage the diaspora in Europe are planned in the French city of Marseille (November) and the capital city of Italy, Rome (October).

Celebrations in France are to take place at notable landmarks including Versailles, Saint-Sulpice in central Paris, and the iconic Sacré-Cœur Basilica. 

“We will be there as the Church of Cape Verde, sharing our faith and history in the heart of Europe,” Cardinal Furtado said.

Named in honor of the Church’s 500-year presence, the C500 Project is driven by a national commission and aims to engage all Cape Verdeans, on the islands and abroad. 

In 2026, the celebrations are to move to Africa, continuing the global journey toward the climax of the quincentenary jubilee celebrations in 2033.