One of the new cardinals appointed by Pope Francis on October 5 is the emeritus bishop of Benguela, Angola, Eugenio Dal Corso.
He calls himself a missionary cardinal. He says the challenge for the Church in Africa is to not lose sight of the poor.
CARD. EUGENIO DAL CORSO
Bishop Emeritus of Benguela, Angola
“I think Pope Francis wanted to use my appointment to draw attention to the humblest and poorest regions, those most abandoned by society. I live in a very poor area where people eat only once a day.”
He has lived out most of his priestly missionary work in the world’s peripheries. He spent 11 years in Argentina and 33 in Africa, where he currently lives.
CARD. EUGENIO DAL CORSO
Bishop Emeritus of Benguela, Angola
“When they were told that the pope had chosen me for cardinal, they started to cry. They said, ‘Now you’re leaving.’ I told them, ‘No, no, no. The pope won’t take me away from this place. I will return to you with a lot of joy.”
This joy is reflected in his commitment to the poorest and most marginalized in Angola, despite his being an emeritus bishop.
CARD. EUGENIO DAL CORSO
Bishop Emeritus of Benguela, Angola
“Many are baptized, but baptism is the only thing they count on because there are so few priests. Hardly any have been there. So I went to be a missionary priest. I began giving catechism, first communions, confirmations, and matrimonies, and I still work there. I will return as bishop and now as missionary cardinal.”
Although he will not be able to vote at the next conclave because he is 80 years old, he says this new responsibility will intensify his pastoral work in Africa.
