Damião António Franklin
Encyclopedia
Damião António Franklin is an Angola
n prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the fifth and current Archbishop of Luanda
.
, and ordained
to the priesthood
on June 1978. On May 29, 1992, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Luanda
and Titular Bishop
of Falerone
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following July 12 from Alexandre Cardinal do Nascimento
, with Archbishop Eduardo Muaca and Félix del Blanco Prieto serving as co-consecrators
.
Franklin was later named Archbishop of Luanda
on January 23, 2001. He also serves as President
of the Episcopal Conference
of Angola-São Tomé
. He has lamented the corruption in his country
, saying, "Much of Angola's wealth goes on weapons. Some goes on extravagance like this new presidential
palace which is hardly ever used. Huge sums simply vanish, into private hands."
Before the 2008 legislative election
, the first election in Angola
since the 1992 one that sparked the second phase of the Civil War
, the Archbishop stated, "The best way to avoid war is to do the elections in an unquestionably free, just and transparent manner. It is important for political parties to continue collaborating with churches with the view to sensitize the society for a greater turnout in the electoral process."
He will serve as a secretary to Peter Cardinal Turkson at the special Synod of Bishops
for Africa
in October 2009.
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the fifth and current Archbishop of Luanda
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda
The Archdiocese of Luanda is the oldest Roman Catholic bishopric in Angola and the direct descendant of the Diocese of Angola e Congo, founded in 1596. It was elevated to its current form on 4 September 1940. It is based in the capital, Luanda...
.
Biography
Damião Franklin was born in CabindaCabinda (city)
Cabinda or Tchiowa, as it is called by the Cabindans, is a city that is located in the Cabinda Province, an exclave of Angola. Angolan sovereignty over Cabinda is disputed by the Republic of Cabinda...
, and ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on June 1978. On May 29, 1992, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Luanda
Luanda
Luanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and its administrative center. It has a population of at least 5 million...
and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Falerone
Falerone
Falerone is a town and comune in province of Fermo, in the Italian region of the Marche, southeast of Urbisaglia.-History:Almost nothing is known of the ancient town except from inscriptions, from which, and from the remains of its buildings, it appears to have been a centre of some importance in...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following July 12 from Alexandre Cardinal do Nascimento
Alexandre do Nascimento
Alexandre do Nascimento is an Angolan Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Luanda from 1986 to 2001, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1983.-Biography:...
, with Archbishop Eduardo Muaca and Félix del Blanco Prieto serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
.
Franklin was later named Archbishop of Luanda
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda
The Archdiocese of Luanda is the oldest Roman Catholic bishopric in Angola and the direct descendant of the Diocese of Angola e Congo, founded in 1596. It was elevated to its current form on 4 September 1940. It is based in the capital, Luanda...
on January 23, 2001. He also serves as President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Episcopal Conference
Episcopal Conference
In the Roman Catholic Church, an Episcopal Conference, Conference of Bishops, or National Conference of Bishops is an official assembly of all the bishops of a given territory...
of Angola-São Tomé
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off...
. He has lamented the corruption in his country
Corruption in Angola
Corruption in Angola is a pervasive phenomenon, hindering economic growth and government-sponsored liberalization programs.-1970s and 1980s:The Soviet press, despite the close relationship between Angola and the USSR, accused the ruling MPLA party of clientelism, corruption, and nepotism, accusing...
, saying, "Much of Angola's wealth goes on weapons. Some goes on extravagance like this new presidential
President of Angola
The President of the Republic of Angola is both head of state and head of government in Angola. While the President appoints a Prime Minister, executive authority usually belongs to the President....
palace which is hardly ever used. Huge sums simply vanish, into private hands."
Before the 2008 legislative election
Angolan legislative election, 2008
A legislative election was held in Angola on September 5 and September 6, 2008, as announced by President José Eduardo dos Santos on December 27, 2007. The 220 seats in the National Assembly were at stake. The 2008 election was the first election in Angola since 1992;...
, the first election in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
since the 1992 one that sparked the second phase of the Civil War
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
, the Archbishop stated, "The best way to avoid war is to do the elections in an unquestionably free, just and transparent manner. It is important for political parties to continue collaborating with churches with the view to sensitize the society for a greater turnout in the electoral process."
He will serve as a secretary to Peter Cardinal Turkson at the special Synod of Bishops
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
for Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in October 2009.