{{short description|none}} [[Image:Igreja Benguela, Angola.jpg|thumb|250px|Catholic Church in [[Benguela]]]] The '''Catholic Church in Angola''' is part of the worldwide [[Catholic Church]], under the spiritual leadership of the [[Pope]] in [[Rome]].
Catholicism was introduced to [[Angola]] by the [[Portuguese explorers]] since 1491 when the first missionaries arrived.<ref>[https://theworldofinfo.com/angola/religion/ The World Of Info website]</ref>
Many of the missionaries saw themselves as Portuguese, rather than integrating into Angolan society. Non-Portuguese missionaries were required to renounce the laws of their own country and submit to Portuguese law, as well as prove their ability to speak and write the Portuguese language.<ref name=":02" /> The Colonial Act of 1930 advanced the view that Portuguese Catholic missions to the country were "instruments of civilization and national influence".<ref name=":02">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Angola: a country study|publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]]|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/90003244/|last=Warner|first=Rachel|date=1989|editor-last=Collelo|editor-first=Thomas|pages=94–97|language=English|isbn=|oclc=44357178|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}|entry=Christianity}}</ref>
==Demographics==
The last census in 2014 noted that 56.4% of the [[Angola]]n population identified as [[Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2015|title=Angola|access-date=18 May 2020|publisher=[[Association of Religion Data Archives]]|url=http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_7_1.asp|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030191322/https://thearda.com/internationalData/Countries/Country_7_1.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
As of 2020, approximately 53.85%<ref>{{cite web|date=2020|title=Angola|access-date=2 March 2023|publisher=[[Association of Religion Data Archives]]|url=http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_7_1.asp|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030191322/https://thearda.com/internationalData/Countries/Country_7_1.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/angola Catholics And Culture website, Retrieved 2023-07-05]</ref> of the population professed the Catholic faith, due largely to [[Angola]]'s history as a former [[Portuguese Angola|Portuguese]] colony.
==Internal structure== The Catholic Church has 19 dioceses in Angola, including 5 archdioceses.<ref>[https://theworldofinfo.com/angola/religion/ The World Of Info website]</ref> All the [[bishop]]s are members of the regional [[Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé]].
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Huambo|Archdiocese of Huambo]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Benguela|Diocese of Benguela]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ganda|Diocese of Ganda]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kwito-Bié|Diocese of Kwito-Bié]] *[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda|Archdiocese of Luanda]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cabinda|Diocese of Cabinda]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Caxito|Diocese of Caxito]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Mbanza Congo|Diocese of Mbanza Congo]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Sumbe|Diocese of Sumbe]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Viana, Angola|Diocese of Viana]] *[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lubango|Archdiocese of Lubango]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Menongue|Diocese of Menongue]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ondjiva|Diocese of Ondjiva]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Namibe|Diocese of Namibe]] *[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malanje|Archdiocese of Malanje]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ndalatando|Diocese of Ndalatando]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Uíje|Diocese of Uíje]] *[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saurímo|Archdiocese of Saurímo]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dundo|Diocese of Dundo]] **[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Lwena|Diocese of Lwena]]
==Influence==
The [[Catholic University of Angola]] opened in 1998.<ref>[https://theconversation.com/institutions/catholic-university-of-angola-4541 The Conversation website]</ref>
In 2020, the [[Holy See|Vatican]] noted that there are over 1200 priests and 2200 nuns in Angola, serving 469 parishes and 44 Catholic hospitals.<ref>[https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/angola ''Statistical Yearbook of the Church 2020 (Vatican City: Librera Editrice Vaticana, 2022)'' as presented on the Catholics And Culture website]</ref>
The Catholic radio station Ecclesia is broadcast in 16 of Angola's 18 provinces. [[Vatican Radio]] and Maria Radio also operate in the country.<ref>[https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ANGOLA-2021-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUS-FREEDOM-REPORT.pdf US State Dept, International Religious Freedom Report for 2021]</ref> ==See also== *[[Catholic Church by country]] * [[Religion in Angola]] * [[Christianity in Angola]] * [[Protestantism in Angola]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.ceast.ao/ Current site of Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tome] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090301172844/http://www.ceastangola.org/ Former site of Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tome]
{{Africa topic|Catholic Church in|groupstyle=background-color:gold|titlestyle=background-color:gold}}
[[Category:Catholic Church in Angola| ]]