Mbanza kongo: The Bishop Emeritus of Mbanza Kongo, Dom Serafim Shingo-ya-Hombo, was laid to rest on Friday in the local Cathedral. The burial ceremony, marked by profound emotions, was attended by an array of dignitaries and mourners, including members of the Zaire government, family, Catholic faithful, and representatives from other religious groups and political parties across Angola.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the funeral eulogy featured messages from Pope Leo XIV, the Vice-President of the Republic, the Episcopal Conference of Angola and So Tom© (CEAST), and the Provincial Government of Zaire, among others. These messages collectively extolled Dom Serafim Shingo-ya-Hombo's enduring contributions as a servant of God. Dom Vicente Carlos Kiaziku, the bishop of the diocese of Mbanza Kongo, emphasized unity and cohesion as vital ways for the Catholic Church's faithful to honor the legacy of Bishop Emeritus Shingo-ya-Hombo, who passed away at 80.
Prominent attendees included the governor of Zaire, Adriano Mendes de Carvalho, CEAST president Dom Manuel Ibamba, and bishops from various archdioceses and dioceses, including Huambo, Saurimo, Luanda, Malanje, Uge, Ndalatando, Caxito, and Sumbe. Dom Serafim Shingo-ya-Hombo led the Mbanza Kongo diocese for 16 years, succeeding Dom Afonso Nteka, who tragically passed away in 1992.