Diocese of

Sumbe

Angola

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Sumbe / Sumben(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Luanda

Neighbouring Dioceses: Viana (↑), Ndalatando (↗), Malanje (↗), Kwito-Bié (→), Huambo (↘), Benguela (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora da Conceição

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1975.08.10: Established as Diocese of Ngunza (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Luanda and became suffragan of Luanda)
1977.02.03: Renamed as Diocese of Novo Redondo / Neo-Redonden(sis) (Latin)
2006.10.22: Renamed as Diocese of Sumbe / Sumben(sis) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2023.05.04 – ...):

Bishop Firmino David (63)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Sumbe (Roman Rite)

Bishop Firmino David (63)
(2023.05.04 – ...)

Bishop of Sumbe (Angola)

Gaudium unitas et caritas ex corde Domini

Born:	1962.04.13 (Sasalakata, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1991.04.21
Consecrated Bishop:	2023.07.23

Priest of Huambo (Angola) (1991.04.21 – 2023.05.04)

Bishop of Sumbe (Angola) (2023.05.04 – ...)

Archbishop Luzizila Kiala (62)
(Apostolic Administrator 2021.09.29 – 2023.05.04)

Bishop Luzizila Kiala (62) (later Archbishop)
(2013.05.21 – 2021.09.29)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Malanje (Angola)

Born:	1963.11.19 (Damba, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1992.08.23
Consecrated Bishop:	2013.08.25

Priest of Uíje (Angola) (1992.08.23 – 2013.05.21)

Bishop of Sumbe (Angola) (2013.05.21 – 2021.09.29)

Apostolic Administrator of Sumbe (Angola) (2021.09.29 – 2023.05.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Malanje (Angola) (2021.09.29 – ...)

Bishop Benedito Roberto, C.S.Sp. (later Archbishop)
(2006.10.22 – 2012.05.19)

Deus caritas est

Born:	1946.11.05 (Mussende Gango, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1981.10.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.02.25
Died:	2020.11.08 (Malanje, Angola † 74)

Bishop of Novo Redondo (Angola) (1995.12.15 – 2006.10.22)

Bishop of Sumbe (Angola) (2006.10.22 – 2012.05.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Malanje (Angola) (2012.05.19 – 2020.11.08)

Bishops of Novo Redondo (Roman Rite)

Bishop Benedito Roberto, C.S.Sp. (later Archbishop)
(1995.12.15 – 2006.10.22)

(see above)

Bishop Zacarias Kamwenho (91) (later Archbishop)
(1977.02.03 – 1995.03.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Lubango (Angola)

Born:	1934.09.05 (Chimbundo, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1961.07.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1974.11.23

Priest of Nova Lisboa (Angola) (1961.07.09 – 1974.08.26)

Titular Bishop of Tabla (1974.08.26 – 1975.08.10)

Auxiliary Bishop of Luanda (Angola) (1974.08.26 – 1975.08.10)

Bishop of Ngunza (Angola) (1975.08.10 – 1977.02.03)

Bishop of Novo Redondo (Angola) (1977.02.03 – 1995.03.03)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Lubango (Angola) (1995.03.03 – 1997.01.15)

President of Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (1997 – 2003)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lubango (Angola) (1997.01.15 – 2009.09.05)

Bishops of Ngunza (Roman Rite)

Bishop Zacarias Kamwenho (91) (later Archbishop)
(1975.08.10 – 1977.02.03)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Sumbe, Cuanza Sul

Viana (↑), Ndalatando (↗), Malanje (↗), Kwito-Bié (→), Huambo (↘), Benguela (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 58,698 km²

Population: 710,580 Catholics (35.6% of 1,995,987 total)

Pastoral Centres: 24 parishes, 72 missions

Personnel: 51 priests (diocesan), 102 religious (6 brothers, 96 sisters), 96 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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