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Catholic Church in Angola
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Catholic Church in Angola is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.
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Catholicism was introduced to Angola by the Portuguese explorers since 1491 when the first missionaries arrived.[1]
Many of the missionaries saw themselves as Portuguese, rather than integrating into Angolan society. Non-Portuguese missionaries were required to renounce the laws of their own country and submit to Portuguese law, as well as prove their ability to speak and write the Portuguese language.[2] The Colonial Act of 1930 advanced the view that Portuguese Catholic missions to the country were "instruments of civilization and national influence".[2]