CAPE VERDE, THE CHURCH IN

The Republic of Cape Verde is comprised of a chain of ten volcanic islands and five islets in the North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, 300 miles west of Senegal. The Cape Verde islands are characterized by volcanic activity, steep, rocky terrain, violent winds, and prolonged droughts; desertification and deforestation have become major threats to the little land suitable for agriculture. Uninhabited until their discovery by the Portuguese in the 15th century, the islands are now home to an ethnic Creole majority as well as Europeans and Africans. The islands, which include Sãp Tiago, Santo Antão, São Vicente, São Nicolau, Sal Rei, Boa Vista, Fogo, Maio, Brava, and Santa Luzia, contain few natural resources; fishing is a substantial industry.

Discovered in 1456 by Venetian navigator Ca Da Mosto and colonized by the Portuguese as a trading center for African slaves, the islands became important to Portugal's trade with Africa, Asia, and South America. The islands remained a colony of Portugal until 1951, when they became an overseas territory. Fighting alongside

nationalists in Portuguese Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau), Cape Verde obtained its political independence on July 5, 1975.

Franciscans were the first to minister on the islands, brought by Portuguese traders. In 1532 the Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde was created, its jurisdiction at first extending to the African coast from the Gambia River to Cape Palmas (in modern Liberia). Such large geographical demands seriously hindered the Church's development, and between the 17th and 19th centuries the mission languished. Twice for long periods (1646–72, 1826–45) there was no resident bishop. A minor seminary was established in 1866, but Portugal's anticlerical government closed it in 1910.

In 1941 the islands saw a resurgence in missionary activity, with the arrival of Holy Ghost Fathers who rein-vigorated the diocese. Capuchins came in 1946, followed by Salesians, to work among a population described as dechristianized. By 2000 Cape Verde contained 31 active parishes administered to by 15 secular and 32 religious priests, six brothers, and 104 sisters.

While the Church's evangelization efforts in Cape Verde continued to be successful, the population as a whole became increasingly threatened by the encroachment of the Sahara desert, and younger citizens were emigrating to escape drought and poverty by 2000. Beginning in February 1984 Pope John Paul II, through his personal charity Cor Unum, established "John Paul II for the Sahel," to combat poverty, hunger, and health risks as well as develop alternate agricultural methods in Cape Verde and the eight other nations in the Sahel region threatened by the encroachment of the Sahara's sands. In 1999 $5.5 million was donated to this cause, followed in 2000 by $1.6 million. A representative from the Holy See also participated in an international conference in Bonn, Germany in December 2000 to address the loss of arable land in the Sahel.

Bibliography: "A religião em Cabo Verde," in Portugal em Africa 13 (1956). j. pereira de oliveira, "Actividades dos padres do Espirito Santo em Cabo Verde," ibid. 14 (1957) 303–. "A acção dos padres do Espirito Santo em Cabo Verde," Boletim Geral do Ultramar 392 (Lisbon 1958) 111–115. r. pattee, Portugal na Africa contemporânea (Coimbra 1959) with full bibliography. Bilan du Monde 2:205–206. a. mendes pedro, Anuário Cat—1ico do Ultramar Portugues (1960): Annuaire Catholique de l'Outre-Mer. Portugais (Estudos de ciéncias políticas e sociais 57; 1962), Fr. and Port. on opposite pages. Centro de Estudos Políticos e Sociais, Lisbon. Missão para o Estudo da Missionologia Africana, Atlas missionário portuguès (Lisbon 1962).

[r. pattee/eds.]