"Angola has lost one of its most distinguished sons, a good man who dedicated a large part of his life to transmitting values and principles for a life of dignity, forgiveness and respect for others", wrote the head of state.
The message was left during his visit to the Episcopal Palace in Luanda, where he expressed his condolences to the leadership of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST) for the death of the cardinal. According to a statement from CIPRA, to which VerAngola had access, the head of state was accompanied by the first lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Lourenço.
In the book of condolences, the statement adds, João Lourenço "once again praised the virtues of Cardinal Dom Alexandre do Nascimento, as he had already done in the message addressed to the family on the day of the death of the eminent man of God".
In his message, João Lourenço expressed his conviction that "the deeds of the servant of the Church and the Nation who is now leaving us will be perpetuated".
"I share the certainty that the deeds of the servant of the Church and the Nation, who is now leaving us, will be perpetuated throughout generations, as confirmation of the greatness of his journey and the nobility of the general cause he defended throughout his life, that of spreading goodness".
The President of the Republic also expressed his condolences to the church and the family. "On my behalf, on behalf of my family and the Angolan Executive, I convey my deepest condolences to the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church and the bereaved family", he said.
According to CIPRA, the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa, members of the Executive, the National Assembly, judicial and defence and security bodies, as well as diplomatic, political and religious entities, also expressed their condolences to the family and members of the Catholic Church in Angola and São Tomé.
It should be remembered that Cardinal Dom Alexandre do Nascimento died on 28 September, victim of illness, at the age of 99.
Born on 1 March 1925 in Malanje, Dom Alexandre do Nascimento "was the first Angolan cardinal in the history of the Catholic Church" and will be buried this Tuesday in the Cathedral of Luanda.
