The appeal of the Catholic bishops was expressed in a statement from the first ordinary plenary meeting of the permanent council of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST) which ended this Wednesday in Luanda.
The first ordinary meeting of the permanent council of CEAST was chaired by the president of CEAST and Archbishop of Saurimo, José Manuel Imbamba.
According to CEAST spokesperson, Belmiro Chissengueti, who presented the statement, given the current political context in the country, the organ "invites all bishops, priests and pastoral agents to be builders of bridges, consensus and promoters of constructive dialogue between all".
Angolan Catholic prelates also noted "with satisfaction" the holding of congresses by some political forces and at the same time "encourage and applaud the democratic dynamic within the parties".
The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) held its VIII Ordinary Congress last weekend, which reelected João Lourenço, also President of the Republic, to the position of president of the party.
Between 2 and 4 December, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) held its XIII Ordinary Congress where it re-elected Adalberto Costa Júnior as head of the party founded by Jonas Savimbi.
The next general elections are scheduled for August 2022 and at this time the process of updating the unofficial electoral register at the country level is taking place.
"While the updating of the electoral register is underway, the permanent council of CEAST calls on citizens to take an active part in this important act of citizenship", said Belmiro Chissengueti.
The CEAST body also urged the media to "be the guarantors of freedom of expression, democracy, pluralism and social harmony, giving voice and voice to everyone without discrimination".
This CEAST body decided that the first plenary assembly in 2022 will take place in the province of Benguela from 1 to 7 February.
The Catholic bishops also approved the statutes of the Association of Catholic Schools in Angola and expressed "gratitude and joy" for the appointment of three new bishops, namely D. António Lunguieki Bengui, auxiliary bishop of Luanda, D. Fernando Francisco, auxiliary bishop of Luanda, and D. Estêvão Binga, auxiliary bishop of Luanda.
Catholic bishops ask for “impartiality and truth” from state institutions
Catholic bishops called on state institutions to "act impartially and truthfully" in this pre-electoral period, urging political parties and actors to act with "fairness, patriotism and civility, safeguarding the values of peace".
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