National Youth Day in Angola Ends With Call on Young People to Reject Violence and Intolerance

“Do not allow your friendships and relationships to be politicized and instrumentalized,” he said, while recognizing political parties as “necessary channels for pursuing the common good.”

For young people who feel called to political engagement, Archbishop Imbamba described politics as “a noble mission of serving the highest ideals of the nation.”

He rejected, however, the use of politics as “a business counter, a means of self-promotion or a tool for crushing others.”

The Catholic Church leader called on young people to place human dignity at the centre of political and social life.

“The human person is the starting point and the end point of everything we do in politics and society,” he said.

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According to Archbishop Imbamba, justice and peace can only be lasting when the well-being of the human person is placed at the heart of social and political structures.

“True justice and lasting peace require that the human person and his or her well-being be at the center of social and political structures,” he said.

He challenged the young people to use their abilities for peaceful coexistence and the common good.

“Awaken the creative and peaceful genius that lives within you,” he said. “Release the talents for healthy coexistence that Christian teaching makes shine within you.”

He further urged them to “embellish our social fabric with attitudes of high civic responsibility and patriotism.”

The CEAST President called on young people to become “active agents of fraternity and concord,” contributing to a society free from injustice, poverty and discrimination.

More than 4,000 young people from the dioceses of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe participated in the four-day gathering, held from August 13 to 16 under the theme, “Young People, Take Courage. I Have Overcome the World.”

Archbishop Imbamba described the National Youth Day as “our great springboard, our antechamber and preparation for the next World Youth Day in South Korea.”