Luanda — President João Lourenço participated Tuesday, in Luanda, in the funeral ceremony of Cardinal Alexandre do Nascimento, which anticipates his burial.

At the Sagrada Família Church, in Luanda, the Head of State, accompanied by the First Lady, Ana Dias Lourenço, attended the religious rite of the funeral.

The aforementioned mass serves to bring everyone together "to enjoy the fruits of the liturgy that provides spiritual help for the deceased, consolation and hope for those who mourn death".

The Archbishop of Luanda, Dom Filomeno Vieira Dias presided the tribute that was also witnessed by the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa, the National Assembly (parliament) Speaker, Carolina Cerqueira, among other individuals, as well as hundreds of Catholic faithful.

The wake of Don Alexandre do Nascimento, who died on September 28th, at the age of 99, victim of illness, has been taking place since Sunday in the Sagrada Família parish, in Luanda.

The urn containing the cardinal's remains is on display in this church, until Tuesday, Oct 8th, which will be followed by his burial in the Archdiocese of Luanda, later today.

Book of Condolences

President João Lourenço wrote on Monday, in the book of condolences, for the death of Cardinal Dom Alexandre, that Angola lost one of its most notable sons.

"I share the certainty that the deeds of the servant of the Church and the Nation, who now leaves us, will be perpetuated throughout generations, as confirmation of the greatness of his journey and the nobility of the general cause that he defended throughout his life, that of spread good", he wrote.