Víctor Luís Quematcha
Víctor Luís Quematcha | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Bafatá, Guinea-Bissau | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Immediately Subject to the Holy See |
| See | Diocese of Bafatá |
| Appointed | 8 March 2025 |
| Installed | 28 June 2025 |
| Predecessor | Carlos Pedro Zilli (13 March 2001 - 31 March 2021) |
| Successor | Incumbent |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 2 May 1998 |
| Consecration | 28 June 2025 by Waldemar Stanisław Sommertag |
| Rank | Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Víctor Luís Quematcha 27 April 1967 Cúmura, Diocese of Bissau, Guinea-Bissau |
| Motto | "Sois todos Irmãos" (You are all brothers) |
| Styles of Víctor Luís Quematcha | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | His Lordship |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Víctor Luís Quematcha O.F.M. (born 27 April 1967) is a Bissau-Guinean Catholic prelate who was appointed Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bafatá, in Guinea-Bissau on 8 March 2025. Before that, from 2 May 1998 until 8 March 2025, he was a priest of the Order of Friars Minor. He was consecrated and installed at Bafatá, Diocese of Bafatá, on 28 June 2025 by Waldemar Stanisław Sommertag, Titular Archbishop of Traiectum ad Mosam.
Background and education
He was born on 27 April 1967 in Cúmura, Bissau, in Guinea Bissau. He studied philosophy at the Don Bosco Higher Institute of Philosophy and Human Sciences, in Lomé, Togo. He then studied theology at the Anyama Major Seminary in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Later, he graduated with a Licentiate in moral theology from the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy in Rome in 2006, having studied there since 2004.[1][2][3]
Priesthood
In 1997 he took his perpetual vows as a member of the Order of Friars Minor at Brá, Guinea-Bissau. He was ordained a priest of the same Catholic religious Order on 2 May 1998 in Nhoma, Guinea Bissau. He served as a priest until 8 March 2025. While a priest, he served in various roles and locations, including:[1][2][3]
- Deputy master of novices in Dapaong, Togo from 1997 until 2000
- Rector of the Brá Minor Seminary in Brá, Guinea Bissau from 2000 until 2004.
- Studies in Rome, Italy at the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy, a component of the Pontifical Lateran University, leading to the award of a licentiate in moral theology from 2004 until 2006.
- Master of temporary professed in Brá, Guinea Bissau from 2007 until 2009.
- Custodian of the Custody of Saint Francis of Assisi for Guinea Bissau from 2009 until 2018.
- Parish priest of the Nossa Senhora da Candelária de Bissau Cathedral from 2014 until 2020.
- Director of the Mal-de-Hansen Hospital in Cúmura, Guinea Bissau from 2017 until 2021.
- Definitor general of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor for Africa from 2021 until 2025.[1][2][3]
As bishop
On 8 March 2025, Pope Francis appointed him as bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bafatá, Guinea-Bissau, a diocese "immediately Subject to the Holy See". He succeeded the late Bishop Carlos Pedro Zilli, who died of COVID-19 while in office on 31 March 2021.[1][2][3][4][5]
Bisho Víctor Luís Quematcha was consecrated bishop and installed at Bafatá, Guinea-Bissau on 28 June 2025. The Principal Consecrator was Waldemar Stanisław Sommertag, Titular Archbishop of Traiectum ad Mosam assisted by José Câmnate na Bissign, Bishop Emeritus of Bissau and António Montes Moreira, Bishop Emeritus of Bragança-Miranda.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Vatican Press Office (8 March 2025). "Resignations and Appointments: Appointment of bishop of Bafatá, Guinea Bissau". Vatican Press Office. Vatican City. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d Vatican News (8 March 2025). "Father Victor Quematcha, New Bishop of Bafatá in Guinea Bissau" (Written in the French language). Vatican News. Vatican City. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d Agenzia Fides (8 March 2025). "Africa/Guinae Bissau: Appointment of bishop of Bafatá". Agenzia Fides. Vatican City. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ ACI Africa (11 June 2025). "Ahead of Episcopal Ordination, Bishop-elect in Guinea-Bissau Cautions Youths against Despair, Urges Fraternity". ACI Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ^ a b Agenzia Fiddes (30 June 2025). "Africa/Guinea Bissau: New Bishop of Bafatà: Listening, dialogue, and walking with the people are among his priorities". Agenzia Fides. Vatican City. Retrieved 26 January 2026.