In a message of condolence, João Lourenço stated that Catholic Christians saw him as one of the great hopes for building a more just and balanced world.
Francis "was a leader committed to peace, social justice and the disadvantaged," says the message sent to Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, the Vatican's camarlengo.
During his pontificate, the Pope, who died this Monday in Rome, "knew how to be a shrewd interpreter of the concerns of the modern world, in view of this, we were privileged to see him advance in courageous positions that changed inappropriate approaches of our time and addressed more fully questions about diversity within the Catholic Church", highlighted João Lourenço.
In November 2019, João Lourenço was received by Pope Francis at the Vatican, with topics such as migration, free trade and freedom of expression, according to the presidency.
The Angolan territory and the Holy See have maintained diplomatic relations since the arrival in Rome, in 1608 (17th century), of António Manuel Nvunda, as the first ambassador of the then Kingdom of Congo, and diplomatic relations between the two States were formalized on July 8, 1997.
On September 13, 2019, the two States signed a Framework Agreement that includes Angola's recognition of the legal personality of the Catholic Church and the ownership of its properties in the country.
Pope John Paul II was the highest authority of the Catholic Church to visit Angola, in 1992, but Pope Francis had also expressed this desire", according to the apostolic nuncio of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe, Dom Giovanni Gaspari, in April last year, a visit that remained to be carried out.
Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88, after 12 years of a pontificate marked by the fight against sexual abuse, wars and a pandemic. Born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, Francisco was the first Jesuit to reach the leadership of the Catholic Church.
In the message, the head of state also addressed, on behalf of the Angolan executive, and on his behalf, to the Vatican State and to the faithful of the Catholic Church throughout the world "the most heartfelt condolences" for the death "of this distinguished universal personality".
Pope Francis was hospitalized for 38 days due to bilateral pneumonia, and was discharged on March 23.
