Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Huambo

Angola

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Huambo / Huamben(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Benguela, Ganda, Kwito-Bié

Neighbouring Dioceses: Lubango (↙), Ganda (↙), Benguela (←), Sumbe (↖), Kwito-Bié (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora da Conceição (December 8)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1940.09.04: Established as Diocese of Nova Lisboa / Novæ Lisbonæ (Latin) (from Diocese of São Paulo de Loanda, from the suppressed Apostolic Prefecture of Cubango in Angola and Mission sui juris of Cunène and became suffragan of Luanda)
1955.07.27: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Sá da Bandeira
1970.06.06: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Benguela
1975.08.10: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Pereira de Eça and Diocese of Serpa Pinto
1977.02.03: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Huambo / Huamben(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Benguela, Luso and Silva Porto)
2011.04.12: Lost suffragan see Luena
2024.08.01: Gained suffragan see Ganda

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1992.06)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2018.10.01 – ...):

Archbishop Zeferino Zeca Martins, S.V.D. (60)

Monsignors (2)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Huambo (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Zeferino Zeca Martins, S.V.D. (60)
(2018.10.01 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Huambo (Angola)

Scis quia amo te Domine

Born:	1966.03.08 (Cacolo, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1995.08.06
Consecrated Bishop:	2012.08.12

Titular Bishop of Tanaramusa (2012.05.19 – 2018.10.01)

Auxiliary Bishop of Luanda (Angola) (2012.05.19 – 2018.10.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Huambo (Angola) (2018.10.01 – ...)

Archbishop José de Queirós Alves, C.SS.R. (85)
(2004.05.03 – 2018.10.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Huambo (Angola)

Born:	1941.05.06 (Soalhães, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1966.08.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1986.11.23

Bishop of Menongue (Angola) (1986.09.12 – 2004.05.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Huambo (Angola) (2004.05.03 – 2018.10.01)

Apostolic Administrator of Menongue (Angola) (2004.06.27 – 2005.08.03)

Bishop Oscar Lino Lopes Fernandes Braga
(Apostolic Administrator 2003.07.31 – 2004.05.03)

Archbishop Francisco Viti
(1986.09.12 – 2003.07.31)

Born:	1933.08.15 (Misasa-Evanga, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1963.07.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.09.28
Died:	2023.04.15 (Luanda, Angola † 89)

Bishop of Serpa Pinto (Angola) (1975.08.10 – 1979.05.16)

Bishop of Menongue (Angola) (1979.05.16 – 1986.09.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Huambo (Angola) (1986.09.12 – 2003.07.31)

Archbishop Manuel Franklin da Costa
(1977.02.03 – 1986.09.12)

Born:	1921.08.31 (Cabinda, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1948.01.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.09.14
Died:	2003.07.17 (Luanda, Angola † 81)

Bishop of Henrique de Carvalho (Angola) (1975.08.10 – 1977.02.03)

Apostolic Administrator of Nova Lisboa (Angola) (1976.04.13 – 1977.02.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Huambo (Angola) (1977.02.03 – 1986.09.12)

President of Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (1982 – 1990)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lubango (Angola) (1986.09.12 – 1997.01.15)

Bishops of Nova Lisboa (Roman Rite)

Bishop Manuel Franklin da Costa (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1976.04.13 – 1977.02.03)

Bishop Américo Henriques
(1972.02.19 – 1976.04.13)

Born:	1923.10.06 (Alburitel, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1947.07.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1966.10.11
Died:	2006.08.14 († 82)

Auxiliary Bishop of Lamego (Portugal) (1966.07.03 – 1967.04.15)

Titular Bishop of Tisili (1966.07.03 – 1971.02.02)

Coadjutor Bishop of Lamego (Portugal) (1967.04.15 – 1971.02.02)

Bishop of Lamego (Portugal) (1971.02.02 – 1972.02.19)

Bishop of Nova Lisboa (Angola) (1972.02.19 – 1976.04.13)

Bishop Daniel Gomes Junqueira, C.S.Sp.
(1941.01.28 – 1970.06.29)

Born:	1894.04.11 (Estela, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1918.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1941.06.01
Died:	1970.06.29 († 76)

Prefect Apostolic of Cubango in Angola (Angola) (1938 – 1941.01.28)

Bishop of Nova Lisboa (Angola) (1941.01.28 – 1970.06.29)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Huambo, Huambo

Lubango (↙), Ganda (↙), Benguela (←), Sumbe (↖), Kwito-Bié (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 34,270 km²

Population: 1,283,600 Catholics (56.3% of 2,280,600 total)

Pastoral Centres: 55 parishes, 24 missions

Personnel: 142 priests (99 diocesan, 43 religious), 396 religious (195 brothers, 201 sisters), 196 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.07.02

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