The Moderate Face of Catholic Sao Tome and Principe

Nossa Senhora da Graça, Sao Tome by Raghu Gururaj

When Portuguese explorers set foot on the empty shores of Sao Tome and Principe in 1470, they also brought Catholicism with them. The lush green twin islands of São Tomé and Príncipe bears the name of Saint Thomas as christened by Portuguese navigators. Since then, Catholicism has gained a firm foothold with the increase in population in Sao Tome over the years.

From being totally uninhabited in 1470, the population of Sao Tome has gradually grown to 220,000 in 2022. This is by no means an explosive growth. But from 1961, the population of Sao Tome and Principe increased from 65,000 to 223,000 in 2021, representing a growth of 247% in just 61 years. During the same period, the median growth of global population was only 157%.

The roots of Roman Catholicism in São Tomé and Príncipe are inextricably linked to Portuguese colonial expansion and the Atlantic slave trade. In their efforts to convert the islands into sugar producing colonies, the Portuguese imported people from other parts of Africa in the late 15th century, who effectively became slaves on the plantations. By the 16th century, Sao Tome became the largest producer of sugar.

In the early years, the efforts of the Portuguese missionaries in spreading Catholicism among the local population were affected by several factors like high mortality rates, departure of Portuguese priests, political tensions, etc. However, in 1534, São Tomé became the seat of the new diocese that stretched from present-day Liberia to South Africa, even though there was no resident Bishop in Sao Tome.

Being geographically disconnected from Portugal, Sao Tome society and culture developed on a different trajectory in isolation from Lisbon and Rome.

Even though Roman Catholicism got firmly entrenched as the dominant religion on the islands in the 16th century, a distinctive creole society developed on these islands, mainly due to the continued influxes of African labourers. The smaller migrations from Portugal, including expelled "New Christians" (converted Jews), civil and political criminals from Portuguese African colonies, and planter-settlers, contributed to this diverse creole culture.

Although, Catholic clerics participated actively in the slave trade, they also played an active and stabilizing role in the factional struggles that characterized political life in São Tomé and Príncipe. During the plantation period of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the Catholic Church did not dispute the dominant plantation owners.

Augustinian missionaries built the first church in São Tomé city, the Nossa Senhora da Graça, in 1504. This Catholic church which later became the cathedral for the diocese of São Tomé, comes under the direct spiritual leadership of the Pope in Vatican. It became the seat of a diocese in 1534 and was reconstructed between 1576 and 1578 during the reign of King Sebastian of Portugal. It underwent more modifications in 1784 and later in 1956, it was remodeled with a Neo-Romanesque main façade by the people of Sao Tome.

Nossa Senhora da Graça, Sao Tome by Raghu Gururaj

As the largest and most important manifestation of Catholicism in the country, the Catholic church of Our Lady of Grace, proudly stands in People's Square in the city centre, close to the Presidential Palace. Since independence in 1975 the church has been run primarily by expatriate priests who have not played an official political role.

Interior View of the Nossa Senhora da Graça, Sao Tome by Raghu Gururaj

Our Lady of Conception Church, is another important parish church in Sao Tome city, affiliated with the Catholic Church. Also known as the Red Church because of the red colour of its exterior, it has a single bell tower and a statue of Virgin Mary at the entrance.

Lady of Conception Church, Sao Tome (Google Images)

In addition to the Cathedral, several other churches dot the city, the most interesting examples being the Igreja da Conceição,, built by King Manuel between 1495 and 1521, the Church of São João, built in 1562; the Churches of Bom Jesus and Bom Despacho and the Capela de São Sebastião, built inside the São Sebastião Fortress in the early 17th century.

Sao Tome city church (Raghu Gururaj)

After independence, Sao Tome adopted a secular policy, mainly driven by the complex, hierarchical society had arisen, despite Portuguese intervention and one that was based on several sociocultural groups. This complex society which Sao Tome inherited at the time of independence, comprised the Filho da terra (sons of the land - who descended from mixed unions of slaves and slave owners), the Angolares (descendants of fugitive slaves), the Forros (descendants of freed slaves), Tongas (contract laborers) and finally, the descendants of Portuguese people. However, the secular Marxist ideology did not weaken Catholic or other Christian orientation of the society.

Though deeply religious, Sao Tome society depart in certain ways from Catholic orthodoxy and is relatively liberal by Western standards. Major Christian holidays are celebrated. Baptisms, processions, and funeral masses are crucial, but Sunday mass and communions are not so central. In the celebration of Patron Saint Day or other festivals, they combine religious ceremonies with adaptions from their ethnic culture. Weddings are rarely held in the Church.

Santo Antonio Church, Principe Island (Google images)

Despite their adherence to Catholic views about marriage, few São Tomeans either desire or can afford church weddings. Though formally opposed, the practice of polygamy, polyandry and childbirth outside wedlock are accommodated by the church. Although, São Tomé and Príncipe inherited pre-independence Portuguese laws prohibiting abortion, in practice abortion policies are more liberal today and birth control is practiced. Divorce is common even though frowned upon by the church.

Freedom of religion in São Tomé and Príncipe is guaranteed by the constitution. While Catholicism has the largest following in the country (68%), there is a surprisingly sizable community of atheists and agnostics (19%). Protestants, including Methodists and Evangelicals are present in good numbers (9%). A tiny minority of other faiths including Hindus, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists are also present.

The Catholic traditions were reaffirmed in 2018 when the Vatican signed an agreement with Sao Tome and Principe on the recognition of the Catholic Church and its ecclesiastical institutions as a “juridical personality” on the islands.

With frequent interactions with modern European cultures, and the maturing of its democratic processes, Sao tome today presents a moderate and pragmatic face to the world.