The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed our brother Victor Luis Quematcha, OFM, a member of our Custody of Saint Francis of Assisi in Guinea-Bissau (dependent on the Province of Saint Anthony of Padua of the Friars Minor in Italy) and currently General Definitor for the African Conferences, as Bishop of the Diocese of Bafatá in Guinea-Bissau.
Br Victor was born on April 27, 1967, in Cumura (Prabis), Guinea-Bissau. He received the Franciscan habit on September 17, 1990, and pursued his philosophical studies at the Don Bosco Higher Institute in Togo and his theological studies at the Major Seminary of Anyama in Côte d'Ivoire. He made his Solemn Profession on August 30, 1997, and was ordained a priest on May 2, 1998. He obtained a licentiate in Moral Theology from the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy in Rome.
During his ministry, he has held various positions within the Custody and our Order, including General Definitor, Custos, Vicar of the Custody, Councillor and Secretary of the former Venetian Foundation in Guinea-Bissau, Novice Master, Master of Temporary Professed Friars, Parish Priest, Teacher of Moral Theology at the “Dom Settimio Arturo Ferrazzetta” Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Bissau, and Teacher of Christian Anthropology at the Catholic University of Bissau.
We express our deepest gratitude to our brother, His Excellency, Most Reverend Mons. Victor Luis Quematcha, for his service and fraternal closeness, wishing him a fruitful episcopal ministry in the spirit of fraternity and minority of Saint Francis and the Order.
