Luanda – The president of the Portuguese Republic, Anibal Cavaco Silva distinguished on Monday in Luanda the Angolan Archbishop Cardinal, Dom Alexandre do Nascimento with the Grãu-Cruz order of Christ for his commitment to the achievement of peace and reconciliation among Angolans.

The ceremony was held in the house of the Portuguese ambassador, Francisco Ribeiro Telles in the presence of members of Angolan and Portuguese Governments and religious entities.

Speaking in the ceremony, the president, Cavaco Silva said “we often speak about the suffering and destruction that devastated Angola during the civil war. I could testify the efforts made by cardinal Dom Alexandre do Nascimento to achieve the peace and reconciliation”.

The statesman said that the cleric was honoured for his social work for the poor and disadvantaged.

In the presence of Angolan ministers of Social Welfare, Education and Social Communication respectively, João Baptista Kussumua, Pinda Simão and Carolina Cerqueira, Cavaco Silva said that very early the cardinal understood that there is no another country that is closest to Angola than Portugal.

The ceremony was also attended by the governor of Luanda, Francisca do Espírito Santo.