"Our priority is therefore the formation of catechists, who are the backbone of our ministry. The formation of new priests is also important because we have a good number of vocations, but future priests have to be formed with care. We try to integrate the pastoral care of families and youth, with that of the formation of the laity and priests, because we see the Church as a large family where all the components work together for the good of all."

"Several journalists and opinion leaders have attacked the Church, accusing it of interfering in matters that do not concern it. But how can they ask us not to deal with people's problems? It is hard to deny that what we say is true. In addition, almost the entire population is with us and approves of the position of the Church, because it is in direct contact with the people and knows their suffering"

"Every day new refugees return, like a drop of water in the ocean, as there are so many in need of aid."

"Let's be more sensitive. Let's not make fun of hunger or the poor. They already have a very heavy cross to bear. Let's not forget that it is with them that God identifies himself."

"It is man in his wholeness, in the full use of his freedom who lets himself be taken on by Christ: with his history, mentality and religion; with the social and political structures of the world in which he lives under the influence of the powerful environment of the means of social communication when they do not oppose to the will of the Creator and Redeemer of the world. In other words, it is man with his culture and with whatever he has that is positive."

"There are essential elements which no activism must take away from religious life in a local Church. Although expressing itself according to different models and according to charisma, fraternal life is an essential component of consecrated life. Encourage communities to be an evangelical sign in the various environments, especially for the young and offer the local Church wealth of universality."

"As the Pope's envoy, I'm going with joy because I'll be meeting God's people there, I'm going with pride because I'm going to meet my brothers from Pakistan."

"No one is excused from working for the country's development because development is another name for peace."

"We now have the responsibility of passing it on to others. The Holy Spirit, in turn, asks of every one of us to build a better society or community -right where we live."

"Stop supplying the Africans with weapons because they are killing each other. You are guilty of the atrocity of fratricidal wars: Africans do not make modern sophisticated weapons. You even go and choose the richer countries and the ones having more raw materials to go and stir up turmoil and conflict. The future will no doubt condemn you without pity. Immediately stop any further supply of weapons."

"The Catechism is a safe and authentic reference text for the teaching of Catholic Doctrine. One can know what the Church professes and celebrates, lives and prays in its daily life. For this reason, I decided to translate it into Umbundu. It was very difficult because it concerned philosophical, theological, scientific and bioethical terms."

"The critical awareness of the people is weak. Some of them believe everything told to them by the means of social communication. Because of this, it is considered vital to promote the civic education of citizens and reinforce their critical awareness. That signifies also promoting the defence of freedom of expression and of opinion, as a democratic prerogative and range of development."

"Participate actively and responsibly in the life and mission of the local Church, by serving the human being, culture, economy and politics, aiming to change, little by little, the mentalities, the social institutions and structures, unjust laws and anything that offends and oppresses the dignity of the human being."

"They are using our poverty in order to get their agenda fulfilled and that is what we say is contrary to the principles of genuine love and the principles of the family."

"We want to receive the Holy Father, making him feel the warmth of the Angolan people, receiving him in the celebrative tradition of Angola. In addition, we anxiously await the Holy Father's words of peace and reconciliation, in a country that is still suffering from the wounds of the civil war. We are in need of his spiritual consolation, of his moral indications on justice, peace, quest for the common good, on civil and spiritual progress."

"The celebration of these 53 years is a time to strengthen our commitment to the transmission of faith. It is important that the Church continues to celebrate history and 53 years are to remember and celebrate and from there continue the journey of announcing the Christian message, not only focusing on the work that the bishops have done but also going out to others."

"The positive side of this phenomenon is that it shows there is an increasing thirst for God. But those who are thirsty need to seek the right fountain: the one without the spoilt water."

"It's a cultural mentality that is causing divisions, hatred and the consolidation of ignorance. Families are being destroyed, and it's getting worse because children themselves are being accused of being witches."