AFRICA/CAPO VERDE - Appointment of Bishop of Mindelo

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, on 25 January 2011, appointed as Bishop of the Diocese of Mindelo (Capo Verde), Father Ildo Augusto Dos Santos Lopes Fortes, “Fidei donum” priest, chancellor of the Diocese of Mindelo, Cape Verde, and pastor of the parish of “São Vincente”.
The Bishop elect was born on 13 December 1964 on the island of Sal, Cabo Verde. At the age of 10 he emigrated to Portugal with his parents. He completed primary and secondary schooling in Lisbon. At the age of 19 he entered the Major Seminary of Caparide and then completed ecclesiastical studies in the Major Seminaries of Almada and Cristo Rei dos Olivais, of the Patriarchate of Lisbon. He completed courses in Systematic Theology and in Canon Law, obtaining a License in Theology from the Portuguese Catholic University. He was ordained a priest on 29 November 1992 and appointed within the Patriarchate of Lisbon. He successively held the following positions: 1992-1996: Assistant parish priest of St João de Deus and Assistant in the diocesan secretariat for youth pastoral ministry; 1996-2002: Parish priest of São João da Talha; 2002-2005: Vicar and acting parish priest in the Vicariate of Sacavém; 2005-2007: first service in Mindelo as Fidei donum; 2007-2008: Parish priest of St João Baptista; since 2008: second service in Mindelo as Fidei donum; 2009: Parish priest of São Vicente, chancellor of the Diocese of Mindelo, member of the College of Councillors and of the Diocesan Secretariat for Catechesis, Professor at the School of Formation for permanent deacons.
The Diocese of Mindelo, has an area 2,230 sq. km, a population of 166,000, of whom Catholics number 149,230. There are 14 parishes served by 19 priests (7 diocesan, including 5 “Fidei donum” and 12 men religious), 5 religious brothers, 53 religious sisters and 10 major seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 26/01/2011)