Lubango (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gabriel Mbilingi, C.S.Sp., Archbishop
Zacarias Kamwenho, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 3 February 1977
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Angola
Square Kilometers: 79,023 (30,522 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Arcebispado, C.P. 231, Lubango, Angola
Telephone: 930.183.836

Historical Details

Diocese of Sá da Bandeira
- Latin Name: Sadabandeiropolitana
- Erected: 27 July 1955
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Luanda
- Country: Angola

Past and Present Ordinaries

Altino Ribeiro de Santana † (27 Jul 1955 Appointed - 19 Feb 1972 Appointed, Bishop of Beira)
Eurico Dias Nogueira † (19 Feb 1972 Appointed - 3 Feb 1977 Resigned)
Alexandre do Nascimento † (3 Feb 1977 Appointed - 16 Feb 1986 Appointed, Archbishop of Luanda)
Manuel Franklin da Costa † (12 Sep 1986 Appointed - 15 Jan 1997 Retired)
Zacarias Kamwenho (15 Jan 1997 Succeeded - 5 Sep 2009 Retired)
Gabriel Mbilingi, C.S.Sp. (5 Sep 2009 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Sá da Bandeira
27 July 1955	Erected	Diocese of Nova Lisboa (Huila and Moçamedes)	Diocese of Sá da Bandeira (erected)
10 August 1975	Territory Lost	Diocese of Silva Porto (Cuando-Cubango) Diocese of Sá da Bandeira (Ganguela and Jamba (in Huila))	Diocese of Serpa Pinto (erected)
10 August 1975	Territory Lost	Diocese of Sá da Bandeira (Cunene)	Diocese of Pereira de Eça (erected)
8 January 1977	Territory Lost	Diocese of Sá da Bandeira (Chongoroi)	Diocese of Benguela
Archdiocese of Lubango
3 February 1977	Elevated	Diocese of Sá da Bandeira	Archdiocese of Lubango
21 March 2009	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Lubango (Namibe)	Diocese of Namibe (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Sá da Bandeira

1970 351,934 750,000 46.9% 41 58 99 3,554 65 141 14 ap1971

Archdiocese of Lubango

1980 172,061 542,000 31.7% 17 13 30 5,735 17 75 32 ap1981

1990 698,800 1,710,832 40.8% 15 9 24 29,116 12 102 33 ap1991

1999 1,305,000 2,900,000 45.0% 23 19 42 31,071 23 139 33 ap2000

2000 1,271,379 2,947,528 43.1% 28 24 52 24,449 28 187 33 ap2002

2002 1,350,000 2,941,183 45.9% 40 28 68 19,852 36 193 34 ap2003

2003 1,497,345 2,994,688 50.0% 46 28 74 20,234 36 192 33 ap2004

2004 1,521,804 3,039,608 50.1% 47 25 72 21,136 28 206 33 ap2005

2013 1,487,000 2,725,000 54.6% 55 30 85 17,494 32 226 33 ap2014

2016 1,330,000 2,418,000 55.0% 62 27 89 14,943 29 226 39 ap2017

2019 1,330,135 2,497,422 53.3% 72 33 105 12,667 57 228 37 ap2020

2021 1,414,530 2,655,860 53.3% 86 35 121 11,690 59 247 49 ap2022

2023 1,502,130 2,820,335 53.3% 88 31 119 12,622 56 271 51 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Sá da Bandeira
1970	351,934	750,000	46.9%	41	58	99	3,554	65	141	14	ap1971
Archdiocese of Lubango
1980	172,061	542,000	31.7%	17	13	30	5,735	17	75	32	ap1981
1990	698,800	1,710,832	40.8%	15	9	24	29,116	12	102	33	ap1991
1999	1,305,000	2,900,000	45.0%	23	19	42	31,071	23	139	33	ap2000
2000	1,271,379	2,947,528	43.1%	28	24	52	24,449	28	187	33	ap2002
2002	1,350,000	2,941,183	45.9%	40	28	68	19,852	36	193	34	ap2003
2003	1,497,345	2,994,688	50.0%	46	28	74	20,234	36	192	33	ap2004
2004	1,521,804	3,039,608	50.1%	47	25	72	21,136	28	206	33	ap2005
2013	1,487,000	2,725,000	54.6%	55	30	85	17,494	32	226	33	ap2014
2016	1,330,000	2,418,000	55.0%	62	27	89	14,943	29	226	39	ap2017
2019	1,330,135	2,497,422	53.3%	72	33	105	12,667	57	228	37	ap2020
2021	1,414,530	2,655,860	53.3%	86	35	121	11,690	59	247	49	ap2022
2023	1,502,130	2,820,335	53.3%	88	31	119	12,622	56	271	51	ap2024

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Eurico Dias Nogueira † (Bishop: 19 Feb 1972 to 3 Feb 1977)
Alexandre do Nascimento † (Archbishop: 3 Feb 1977 to 16 Feb 1986)
Manuel Franklin da Costa † (Archbishop: 12 Sep 1986 to 15 Jan 1997)
Altino Ribeiro de Santana † (Bishop: 27 Jul 1955 to 19 Feb 1972)

Source(s)

Diocese of Sá da Bandeira
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 47, Page 807, to Page 809
Archdiocese of Lubango
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 69, Page 138, and Page 139