Nature is “revolting against us”: Angolan Catholic Bishop Warns of Climate Change, Deforestation

“The renewal of commitment to nature is also the renewal of commitment to our own survival,” he said.

The Catholic Bishop, who also serves as the president of the Episcopal Commission for youth, university ministry, and Scouting of the Bishops’ Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST), emphasized that environmental protection should form part of the moral and educational formation of every person.

“When we speak about the value of nature within scout pedagogy, the value is reflected not only in looking at what was created and protecting it, but also in learning to plant and recreate,” he said.

The Angolan member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (CSSp./Holy Ghost Fathers/Spiritans) urged scouts and Catholic faithful to move beyond symbolic gestures and embrace long-term environmental responsibility.

“We do this not only as a symbolic moment of formation, but as a space for taking responsibility in the great mission God has given humanity to fill and care for the earth,” he explained.

Bishop Chissengueti lamented that Angola is progressively losing its forests, wildlife, and food self-sufficiency due to environmental degradation and poor stewardship of natural resources.

“Our country is slowly moving toward desertification because of irresponsibility in caring for the creation freely given to us by God,” he warned.

The Catholic Church leader denounced indiscriminate tree cutting for charcoal production and commercial timber exploitation in different parts of Angola, observing that many cities have already lost much of their vegetation cover.

“When one flies over some cities, what remains are mango trees, avocado trees, and very little else,” he said.

The Catholic Bishop encouraged communities, Dioceses, and families to promote permanent reforestation campaigns through the planting of fruit trees and other environmentally beneficial species.