AFRICA/CAPE VERDE - The Concordat signed by Cape Verde and the Holy See arouses the interest of the Bishops of Angola

Praia (Agenzia Fides) - The President of the Republic of Cape Verde, Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, yesterday 10 June, signed the Concordat between the Holy See and Cape Verde, in Praia. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Holy See by His Exc. Mgr. Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.
The agreement regulates, among other things, the legal status of the Catholic Church in the Country, the Catholic teaching in schools and matrimonial matters.
"It is, without doubt, a very important tool to allow the Church and the State of Cape Verde to work at the service of the poor and the promotion of human dignity," said to Lusa Agency His Exc. Mgr. Ildo Augusto dos Santos Fortes, Bishop of Mindelo.
The signing of the Concordat of Cape Verde is followed with attention and interest by the Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tomé, says a statement published on the website of the Conference which recalls the common membership of Angola and Cape Verde in Portuguese-speaking Countries. The Bishops also emphasize the need to "reach a concordat agreement between the Angolan State and the Vatican State".
The message concludes by recalling that prior to Cape Verde the only Portuguese-speaking African country to sign a concordat with the Holy See, was Mozambique (in December 2011). (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 11/06/2013)