The Catholic Church in the Cape Verde is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. The country is divided into two dioceses: Mindelo and Santiago de Cabo Verde.
In 2022, more than 94% of the population of Cape Verde is Christian, with almost 85% being Roman Catholic.[1] Other figures state that 77% of the population is Catholic.[2]
History
The Catholic Church was established by Portuguese traders in 1533 on the island.[3] Diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Cape Verde were established in 1976.[4] The same year, Caritas Caboverdiana was founded as the social arm of the Church.[5]
The Diocese of Mindelo was divided from the original Diocese of Santiago in 2003, creating the current configuration of two diocese covering the island country.[3] In 2011, an agreement was signed between the Government of Cape Verde and the Vatican creating a legal foundation for the Catholic Church in the country, allowed for Catholic schools, and a church role in formalizing marriages.[6] On February 14, 2015, Pope Francis made Bishop Arlindo Gomes the first Cardinal from Cape Verde.[3]
References
- 1.World Religion Database 2020 at the ARDA website, Retrieved 2023-08-01
- 2.International Religious Freedom Report 2022: Cape Verde. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
- 3.[3.2][3.3]"Cape Verde, Africa getting its first cardinal". Catholic News Agency. 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
- 4."Agreement Ratified Between Holy See and Cape Verde". Zenit News Agency. 2014-04-04. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
- 5."Escolha de Dom Arlindo para cardeal vai ser bom para a Cáritas - secretária-geral" [Dom Arlindo's election as cardinal will be good for Caritas - Secretary General]. Expresso das Ilhas (in Portuguese). 19 February 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- 6."Catholic Bishops of Cape Verde on their ad limina visit". Vatican Radio. 2014-09-10. Archived from the original on 2016-08-14. Retrieved 2015-03-05.