Archbishop José Manuel Imbamba elected president of the conference of Angolan Catholic bishops

The announcement of the new CEAST board was made this Monday, at a press conference, by the CEAST spokesperson, Belmiro Chissengueti, at the end of the second annual plenary assembly of this body, which took place between 6 and 11 October, in Luanda .

José Manuel Imbamba replaces the archbishop of Luanda, Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias, who has headed CEAST for the past six years.

The statement regarding the plenary was presented by the Bishop of Cabinda and CEAST spokesperson, Belmiro Chissengueti.

The Bishop of Caxito, Maurício Agostinho Camuto, was elected as the new secretary general of the Catholic Church, and Bishop Luzizila Kiala, recently appointed by Pope Francis to the position of Archbishop of Malanje, was elected Deputy General Secretary.

The second annual plenary assembly of Angolan Catholic bishops also elected a new permanent council, which is headed by the new direction of the organ and seven other prelates, including bishops and archbishops.

Archbishops José Manuel Imbamba, Zeferino Zeca Martins and Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias and Bishop Maurício Agostinho Camuto make up the new economic council of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé.

They were also elected to the new heads of the nine episcopal commissions of CEAST.

Regarding CEAST delegates, the Bishop of Cabinda, Belmiro Chissenguei, was elected CEAST Spokesperson, the Bishop of Viana, Emílio Sumbelelo, responsible for monitoring the Framework Agreement, signed between the Angolan State and the Vatican, and also responsible for the protection of minors and vulnerable people.