Diocese of

Benguela

Angola

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Benguela / Benguelen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Huambo

Neighbouring Dioceses: Sumbe (↑), Huambo (→), Ganda (→), Namibe (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora de Fátima

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1970.06.06: Established as Diocese of Benguela / Benguelen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Nova Lisboa and became suffragan of Luanda)
1977.02.03: Became suffragan of Huambo
2024.08.01: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Ganda

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1992.06)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2018.03.26 – ...):

Bishop António Francisco Jaca, S.V.D. (62)

Monsignors (2)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Benguela (Roman Rite)

Bishop António Francisco Jaca, S.V.D. (62)
(2018.03.26 – ...)

Bishop of Benguela (Angola)

Deus, eu sou bom

Born:	1963.11.03 (Quessua, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1990.09.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.07.22

Bishop of Caxito (Angola) (2007.06.06 – 2018.03.26)

Bishop of Benguela (Angola) (2018.03.26 – ...)

Bishop Eugenio Dal Corso, P.S.D.P. (later Cardinal)
(2008.02.18 – 2018.03.26)

Born:	1939.05.16 (Lugo di Valpantena di Grezzana, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1963.07.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.03.03
Created Cardinal:	2019.10.05
Died:	2024.10.20 (Negrar, Italy † 85)

Coadjutor Bishop of Saurimo (Angola) (1995.12.15 – 1997.01.15)

Bishop of Saurimo (Angola) (1997.01.15 – 2008.02.18)

Bishop of Benguela (Angola) (2008.02.18 – 2018.03.26)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Anastasia (2019.10.05 [2019.11.17] – 2024.10.20)

Bishop Oscar Lino Lopes Fernandes Braga
(1974.11.20 – 2008.02.18)

Born:	1931.09.30 (Malanje, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1964.07.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.02.02
Died:	2020.05.26 (Benguela, Angola † 88)

Bishop of Benguela (Angola) (1974.11.20 – 2008.02.18)

Apostolic Administrator of Huambo (Angola) (2003.07.31 – 2004.05.03)

Bishop Armando Amaral dos Santos
(1970.06.06 – 1973.10.14)

Born:	1929.03.04 (Chinguar, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1956.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.08.02
Died:	1973.10.14 († 44)

Bishop of Benguela (Angola) (1970.06.06 – 1973.10.14)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Estêvão Binga (59) (2021.11.03 – 2024.08.01)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Benguela, Benguela

Sumbe (↑), Huambo (→), Ganda (→), Namibe (↓)

Statistics (2024.12.31)

Area: 20,780 km²

Population: 1,540,364 Catholics (78.6% of 1,960,070 total)

Pastoral Centres: 47 parishes

Personnel: 234 priests (199 diocesan, 35 religious), 286 religious (4 brothers, 282 sisters), 115 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.07.14

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