Ahead of Episcopal Ordination, Bishop-elect in Guinea-Bissau Cautions Youths against Despair, Urges Fraternity

The late Pope Francis appointed Mons. Quematcha as the Bishop of Bafatá Diocese on March 8. The Bissau-Guinean Episcopal See has been vacant since March 2021 with the passing on of Bishop Pedro Carlos Zilli. 

Born in April 1967 in Cúmura in the Catholic Diocese of Bissau, the Bishop-elect was ordained a Priest in May 1998 in Nhoma, Guinea Bissau.

As a Priest, Mons. Quematcha served as OFM Cap. Assistant Novice Master in Dapaong, Togo, and Rector at St. Kizito Minor Seminary in Guinea-Bissau. 

The holder of a licentiate in Moral Theology from the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy in Rome also served as lecturer of moral theology at Bishop Settimo Arturo Ferrazetta Inter-diocesan Major Seminary in Bissau, master of OFM Cap. temporary professed members in Brá, and custodian of the OFM Cap. Custody of St. Francis of Assisi for Guinea Bissau.

The Bissau-Guinean Bishop-elect also served as Parish Priest of the Our Lady of Candelaria Cathedral of Bissau Diocese, and Director of the Mal-de-Hansen Hospital in Cúmura.

More in Africa

Reports of Alleged South Africa’s Police Minister Links to Criminal Gangs “deeply unsettling”: Catholic Bishops

Read the article

In the June 10 address to journalists, Mons. Quematcha acknowledged the unique context of the Diocese of Bafatá, being a predominantly Muslim region with a section of the population belonging to African traditional religions. 

“In Bafatá, there is a particular reality, because it is a region largely occupied by Muslims and, on the other hand, by practitioners of traditional religion. But at the same time, we are brothers,” Mons. Quematcha reiterated. 

Once ordained Bishop, Mons. Quematcha is to serve as the second Local Ordinary of Bafatá Diocese, which measures 24,635 square kilometers with an estimated population of 827,700, Catholics numbering 35,550, according to 2023 statistics.

ACI Africa was founded in 2019. We provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church in Africa, giving particular emphasis to the words of the Holy Father and happenings of the Holy See, to any person with access to the internet. ACI Africa is proud to offer free access to its news items to Catholic dioceses, parishes, and websites, in order to increase awareness of the activities of the universal Church and to foster a sense of Catholic thought and culture in the life of every Catholic.