Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias

Vieira Dias belongs to an illustrious Angolan family with strong links to the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).[1] He is the cousin once removed of General Manuel Hélder Vieira Dias Jr., known as “Kopelipa,” a member of the inner circle of former Angolese President José Eduardo dos Santos. He is also the great-nephew of the musician and political activist Carlos Aniceto Vieira Dias, known as “Liceu,” who was a founder of the band Ngola Ritmos as well as of the MPLA, and the cousin once removed of musician Ruy Alberto Vieira Dias Mingas, who wrote the music for Angola Avante, Angola's national anthem.[2]

Vieira Dias studied in the Capuchin minor seminary in Luanda and in the major seminary of Cristo Rei in Huambo and was ordained on October 30, 1983. He holds a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Lateran University and a licenciate in philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He studied journalism in Luanda and through the Catholic University of Paris. He also has a diploma in juridical-administrative practices from the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome. He is a member of the fiscal council of the Association of Portuguese Language Universities, the Angola Educational Assistance Fund, and the Scientific Society of the Catholic University of Portugal.[3]

Before being ordained a bishop, Dias was a parish and administrative vicar, including in a parish in Northern Cabinda Province[4]; a canon; and a lecturer in philosophy, fundamental theology, African history, African philosophy, contemporary philosophy, and theological ethics.

Vieira Dias was appointed auxiliary bishop of Luanda by John Paul II on October 4, 2003[5] and installed on January 11, 2004.[4]

In February 2005, Vieira Dias was appointed bishop of Cabinda by John Paul II. Because he was not from Cabinda and because of his family links to the regime of José Eduardo dos Santos, Vieira Dias’s appointment was controversial and was met with massive protests by Cabindan Catholics.[6][1][7] His predecessor, Paulino Fernandes Madeca, was known to be sympathetic to the Cabindan separatist cause.[6]

The Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST) decried the opposition of Cabindan Catholics to Vieira Dias's nomination and warned against the politicization of the Church in Cabinda.[8] In Vieira Dias's absence, Eugenio Dal Corso, then the bishop of Saurímo, was sent to Cabinda in July to become apostolic administrator of the diocese. On July 18, he was beaten while preparing to celebrate mass at the church of the Immaculate Conception and had to be taken to the hospital.[9] Dal Corso responded by shutting the parish and suspending its pastor, Fr. Jorge Casimiro Congo. After local priests, including Cabinda's vicar general Fr. Raul Tati, protested against this move by writing to the Vatican with a request for Dal Corso's resignation, Dal Corso dismissed Tati from his position.[10] Many Cabindan clergy went on strike in solidarity with the suspended priests and refused to celebrate mass.[11][10] While CEAST stated that it held the priests “completely” responsible for not celebrating mass, Fr. Congo responded that no dialogue had been held with the Cabindan clergy and people. Meanwhile, the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda stated that it held CEAST responsible for the confrontation and implied that the bishops' conference was being manipulated by the Angolan government.[12]

Papal nuncio Giovanni Angelo Becciu emphasized that Vieira Dias's nomination was a matter of papal prerogative and would not be revoked.[13] He came to Cabinda in order to meet with Dal Corso, and while he held a “fraternal” meeting with Cabindan priests, his meeting with laypeople was "hostile"[12] and his car was stoned by a crowd.[7]

At the beginning of December 2005, an accord for the resumption of the celebration of masses was reached. By the end of March 2006, CEAST declared that the religious life of the Cabinda diocese was back to normal. Vieira Dias's installation took place in June 2006.[11]

While bishop of Cabinda, Vieira Dias served as coordinator for Benedict XVI's 2009 visit to Angola.[14]

On December 8, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Vieira Dias archbishop of Luanda. He was installed on January 24, 2015. He continued to serve as apostolic administrator of Cabinda until October 2018.[5] On November 9, 2015, he was elected president of CEAST.[15]

On October 5, 2019, Pope Francis made Eugenio dal Corso, the Italian-born bishop emeritus of the Angolan dioceses of Saurímo and Benguela, a cardinal. The Angolan government was reportedly upset that Dal Corso had been made a cardinal instead of Vieira Dias.[16]